I love avocados. They dress up scrambled eggs, sandwiches and salads. One of my favorite ways to enjoy avocados is as guacamole. For my first today, I made fresh guacamole based on the recipe of a friend of mine, Mike Wheeler, affectionately called Wheels by his students. In honor of him, I’ve called it Wheels’ Guacamole.
The avocado is a tree native to Mexico and Central America. They are in the same plant family as cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. The fruit, or botanically, the large berry, contains a single seed and is also called an avocado. Like bananas, avocados are picked when mature but they ripen after harvesting. There are amazing health benefits associated with this super food. Avocados contain in excess of 25 essential nutrients including Vitamins A, B, C, E & K, and they are rich in copper, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. The green fruit also contains fiber, protein and beneficial phytochemicals that may protect against various illnesses and diseases.
Some of the health benefits of the avocado include maintaining a healthy heart, lowering cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, promoting eye health, reducing inflammation and fighting free radicals, which makes it an anti-aging food. It lessens the chance of birth defects, protects against breast and prostate cancer, and studies have shown they can reduce the risk of stroke. Those are all good reasons for consuming avocados. Best of all, I think they taste great too!
When Greg told me he had sampled a wonderful guacamole that Mike had made, I asked for the recipe. Mike graciously shared it. It was wonderful! Easy to make and delicious with crisp chips, it made a quick summer meal.
Wheels’ Guacamole
2 ripe avocados
3 Tablespoons of chunky salsa, medium heat
2 Tablespoons of Mayo or Miracle Whip (Miracle Whip sweetens the guacamole slightly)
1 Tablespoon lemon or lime juice
Salt & pepper to taste
Serve with chips of choice
The Mayan Indians have a saying, “Where avocados grow, hunger or malnutrition has no friends.” Avocados are always welcome in my home!