Friday, Friday, so glad it’s Friday!

So, nothing really new is occurring with the avocados today. The “little seed that could” is beginning to unfurl its little leaves (which my cell phone camera is completely inadequately capturing).

Spreading his little leaves... if he only knew

So, following my previous post, I will today add another recipe which I love that includes avocados. This time, the avocados are being used in the form of a mayonnaise.

I made these for friends a while back, and received RAVE reviews, I hope you will give them a try, and enjoy them as much as I did.

Vegan Red Potatoes

• 9 medium red potatoes
• 4 tbl cooking oil (vegetable oil)
• 1 cup avocado mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup mustard
• 2 tbl vinegar (I used rice vinegar)
• 1 tsp celery salt

Dice taters (1″ cubes), and plop into some boiling water over med/high heat

Return to boil and cook for 6 minutes – drain and set aside

Make Avocado Mayonnaise

• 2 avocados
• handful of fresh basil leaves
• 2 tbl EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil)
• 2 tsp lemon or lime juice (whichever you prefer, or heck, a mix!)

In food processor, pulse basil w/ 1/2 tsp of the EVOO into a paste

Add cubed avocados, and pulse until smooth

Then, slowly add remainder of EVOO and lemon/lime juice to desired consistency

Salt and pepper to taste

The Grand finale!!

Fry them taters til there crispy!

Heat large saute pan w/ veg oil until just smoking  – This is an important step, don’t be in a rush

Reduce heat to medium, and add potatoes, cook until golden brown

Remove from saute pan into a large bowl, and mix in the rest of the ingredients

Salt and Pepper to taste

ENJOY!!

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Young avocado reaches for the sun… and PiZza!!

I planted my little seed that could into his own 10 qt. pot yesterday, and he seems quite happy. I would post pictures; however, my cell phone doesn’t get reception here at my new apartment, and without reception, I cannot send the pictures to my email. Sigh. (I will update with pictures tomorrow)

Interesting watching the little guy reaching for the sun today. The growing tip of the little avo physically bent itself to a 60 degree from vertical to try to get into the sun’s rays. I didn’t really think too much about it at the time, thought it looked a bit strange; however, now that I look at him now, the stem is almost perfectly straight.

With the slow growth of the plants, and the need for something a bit more interesting to read, I will start to add recipes that I like which include avocados.

First up: Vegan Pizza w/ Avocado & Tomatoes

Crust:

• 2 cups AP  flour
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp dry active yeast
• 3/4 cup water (warm)
• 1/2 tsp agave nectar

Sauce:

• 5 – 6 stewed whole plum tomatoes
• 1/3 can tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp ea. oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary
• 1/4 tsp dill
• 1 bay leaf

How:

• Activate yeast in 3/4 cup water (just warm to the wrist), w/ agave nectar – allow to bloom – about 5 – 10 mins
• Mix AP and salt together, add bloomed yeast, and EVOO, stir to bring it all together
• Once the dough ball comes together, add flour as needed while kneading for 10 mins
• Let rise in lightly oiled bowl for about an hour, while the dough is rising
• Crush plum tomatoes (by hand) into small saucepan over low heat, add tomato paste and seasoning, and let simmer (stirring often) for 30 – 40 mins
• For cheese – if you want to keep it vegan, I use Daiya Mozzarella style shreds (made from tapioca and/or arrowroot flour, pressed canola and coconut oils) – it really does the trick, and a darn good pizza
• For toppings, use what you have and like, I use sauteed red bell peppers, zucchini, crook-neck squash, and mushrooms (for the pre-cooked toppings), and1 large Haas avocado, sliced Kalamata Olives, and Roma tomatoes (for the uncooked toppings)
• Preheat oven to 375
• Roll out dough to desired size onto lightly oiled sheet pan, or pizza pan, add sauce, cheese, toppings (except for avocado slices – they would not be great super scorched!) and cook for 20 – 30 minutes, rotating once at the half point of your cooking, and you should end up with something that looks like this…

ENJOY ~~ YUMMY PIZZA IS GOOD PIZZA ~~ ENJOY

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