Chocolate Banana Muffins with Avocado

This is a simple way to make use of overripe bananas and avocados. Feel free to add chocolate chips (1/2-1 cup) for even more chocolate flavor. If chocolate isn't your thing, you can also omit the cocoa and add an additional 1/4 cup of flour (I'd also add 1 tsp cinnamon).

Ingredients

3/4 c overripe banana (2 medium)
1/4 c very ripe avocado (1/2 small)
2 eggs
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 c vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt
3-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 - 3/4 c flour
1/4 c cocoa

12 banana chips (optional)

Instructions

1. Spray 12 muffins tins with nonstick spray.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (if using nonstick or dark colored pan reduce heat to 375 degrees.)
3. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla.
4. Stir in banana and avocado.
5. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder.
6. Add flour mixture to liquid ingredients. Stir very gently until just combined.
7. Place approximately 1/4 cup of batter into each tin.
8. If using, place one banana chip on each muffin.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
10. Cool five minutes and remove from tins onto cooling rack.

No Bake Avocado Lime Cheesecake

My workplace is filled with amazing people, many of whom have a keen interest in food and great cooking talent. Last year, we created a company dessert "bake-off" competition (I'm happy to say I won). It was such a success that we decided to do it again this year. Each week we have a different theme - avocado, chocolate, marshmallow, quinoa, banana etc. Up to five people create their best recipe using the featured ingredient and it's judged by three colleagues. After all of the weekly competitions are completed, the weekly winners then make their best dessert for a no restrictions final bake-off. They can bake anything their hearts desire and it's judged by every person in the office. The baker with the most votes takes the title of master baker! 

I'm in the avocado category this year and I'm competing against some incredibly talented bakers. I was going to go with chocolate and avocado but instead I'm going for something lighter tasting and citrusy. The only problem with avocado is that it is hard to create something that showcases the flavour of avocado because ...well...it doesn't have a strong, distinct flavour. It does however have a great creamy texture that goes well with cream cheese. The lime definitely is the star flavour here and if I didn't tell you there was avocado in it you might not figure it out. But when I tell you it's in there, you  say "oh yeah" because you can taste it if you know to look for it. The toasted coconut goes so well with the lime and adds another layer of texture to the dessert. 

This will make a great summer dessert since it requires NO baking! And it kinda reminds me of a lime margarita (one of my favorite summer drinks)... bring on summer!!

Update: Wow, what an amazing group of competitors and desserts! I'm glad I wasn't a judge because picking a winner would have been difficult. I didn't win this round :( but the winner was a truly deserving avocado pie! The other entries included an avocado Pop-Tart and an avocado crème brûlée - both of which were fabulous!

Ingredients

You need a 9x9 baking dish.

Crust

1-1/4 c graham crackers

1/4 c coconut

1/2 c unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Combine all three ingredients in a mixing bowl. 
2. Press into pan (as compactly as possible).

Cheesecake

2 large avocados, peeled and pitted (about 1.5 - 2 cups )

1/2 c granulated sugar (can add up to 2 tbsp more if not sweet enough for your taste)

1 c whipping cream

1-1/2 tbsp gelatin powder

1/2 c water, divided

1 c vanilla or plain yogurt

1 lb cream cheese

3 tbsp fresh lime juice

zest of 1 lime

toasted coconut for garnish

Instructions

1. In a stand mixer, cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Mix gelatin with 1/4 c of water. Add 1/4 c boiling water and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Set aside.
3. In food processor, puree avocados and lime juice until smooth.
4. Add avocado mixture to the cream cheese and beat until smooth.
5. Turn mixer on medium low and slowly add the gelatin.
6. Add the yogurt and lime zest and mix to combine.
7. In another mixing bowl, whip the whipping cream with hand beaters until soft peaks form.
8. Using a spatula, fold in the whipping cream into the cream cheese mixture and combine well.
9. Pour on top of crust.
10. Smooth the top with a spatula.
11. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 hours until set.
12. When ready to serve, cut into 16 squares.
13. Plate and top with a teaspoon or so of toasted coconut.

The Refresher Smoothie

I'm not a big fan of kale - unless it's in a smoothie. I thought the kale and strawberries would shine in this smoothie but I was wrong! The ginger is the star of the show here. Even though you don't use much its flavour and refreshing nature gets top billing.

Speaking of top billing, are you watching the Oscars tonight? I am but have to admit that I haven't watched many of the nominated shows this year (except the animation ones - thanks kids!). Oh well, my favorite part is the pre-show red carpet reports - who will be the best dressed?? My money is on Lupita Nyong'o!

Makes 2 smoothies.

Ingredients

handful of frozen sliced strawberries
1/2 ripe avocado
1 cup chopped frozen kale
1 inch piece of peeled ginger, chopped
2 tsp ginger syrup (optional)
1.5 cups low fat milk
water to cover (if needed)

Instructions

Blend everything in Nutribullet or blender until smooth and desired consistency is reached.

Other smoothies you should try:

Green Goodness

Avocado Strawberry Smoothie

Blueberry Mango Smoothie

Blueberry Banana Tofu Smoothie

Pomegranate and Kale Smoothie

Strawberry Muesli Smoothie

Detox Lemon Spinach Smoothie

Avocado Chocolate Smoothie
Strawberry Citrus Squeeze

Chocolate Avocado Banana Bran Muffins

Don't be fooled into thinking these are your typical high sugar, low nutrient muffins. They are not! They are packed with fibre, whole grains, potassium, and other great nutrients - and they are DELICIOUS! You don't need  many chocolate chips to up the flavour of these muffins thanks to richness of the cocoa so I often will buy a small quantity of really good quality dark chocolate and chop it up into this recipe to maximize the flavours.

I make a batch of these every couple of weeks. I can easily individually wrap them and throw them in the freezer for snacks, breakfasts and any other time we need a bite on the go.The added bonus is that they act as a bit of an ice pack if the kids have other things like cheese or yogurt in their lunch bags!


Calories - approx 206 per muffin

Ingredients

1/2 ripe avocado, mashed
2 very ripe large bananas, mashed
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (which has less protein than standard whole wheat flour, giving baked goods a more tender texture))
1/4 cup dutch processed cocoa
3/4 cup skim milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/4 cup bran cereal
1 tbsp ground flax
1 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, or chopped good quality chocolate

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Place milk and cereal in large bowl. Let sit 5 minute to soften cereal.
3. Mix in egg, vanilla, flax, oil, mashed bananas and avocado until well combined.
4. In another bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
5. Add flour mixture to cereal bowl. Stir until just combined.
6. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
7. Divide evenly amongst 12 muffin tins.
8. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

To me, this smoothie tastes like chocolate pudding. In fact, if you cut down the milk to just 1 cup you could serve it as a healthy pudding! This is a great afternoon snack for the kids and adults since it will keep them full until dinner-thanks to the fiber in the avocado and strawberries. It also satisfies my mid-afternoon sweet craving!

I know some people stay away from avocados because of the fruit's high fat content as about 85% an avocado's calories are from fat. It's important to remember that the fat found in an avocado is mostly the good kind called monounsaturated fat (same as found in olive oil).

Did you know?

• One avocado has 1/2 the recommended daily fibre for a woman? 
• Many believe avocados have anti-inflammation properties.
• The are also known as "alligator pears" due to the appearance of their skin and shape.
• 1/2 of an avocado provides 25% of the daily recommended amount of folate we need.

The deep chocolate flavour is thanks to the cocoa. If your strawberries are quite sweet you won't need the honey but the ones I have are rather tart so a little extra sweetness is needed.

Makes 2 smoothies.

Ingredients

1 ripe medium avocado
1 heaping tbsp cocoa
1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp honey (optional)
1 cup frozen strawberries

Instructions

Place in blender or Nutribullet and blend until smooth.

Other smoothies you should try:
Green Goodness
Avocado Strawberry Smoothie
Blueberry Mango Smoothie
Blueberry Banana Tofu Smoothie
Pomegranate and Kale Smoothie
Strawberry Muesli Smoothie
Detox Lemon Spinach Smoothie
Cranberry Orange Antioxidant Smoothie

California Sushi Salad

I don't think I had sushi until I moved to Vancouver. I was in my late teens, and had moved here to go to university. Having moved from Halifax, I was a small town girl in a big city world. I thought I knew a lot. I didn't. But I was open to new experiences and sushi was a part of that. I hated it. Seriously. Raw fish did nothing for me. Thankfully, as I "matured" I came to appreciate the flavours and textures of this culinary delight.  In fact, I've even made sushi at home but trust me it's worth the money to go out for properly rolled sushi. This is especially true in Vancouver where there are as many sushi restaurants as there are Starbucks (and there are a lot of Starbucks). Of course, there is a big difference between mediocre and great sushi but that's another story.

But this salad brings the flavours of a California roll into your home without the hassle of trying to roll it yourself!

To make sushi rice you can, as I did, use sushi rice seasoning or make your own. I used canned crab, avocado, cucumbers, and yellow peppers as garnish. I topped it with pickled onions and some crumbled seaweed. My husband went back for thirds and my son had seconds. For an easy yet impressive dish I highly recommend trying it out!

Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

2 cups sushi rice
2 cups water (or as directed by rice instructions)
5 tbsp sushi seasoning
1 can crab (120 gr or about 1/2 cup)
1 avocado, sliced
2 medium yellow peppers, julienned
1/2 cup pickled onions (click here to see recipe)
1 english cucumber, cut in half length wise and then sliced thinly cross wise
1/2 large sheet roasted seaweed (optional), crumbled

Instructions

1. Place rice in strainer and rinse it under cold water until water runs clear. Drain.
2. Add rice and water to a medium sized sauce pan.
3. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally.
4. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 12 minutes.
5. Remove pot from heat and stand, covered, for 10 minutes.
6. Sprinkle sushi seasoning over rice, cutting through rice with a wooden spoon. This will break up any lumps of rice and distribute the vinegar evenly.
7. Cool rice quickly with a fan (or in my case a piece of cardboard), gently stirring the rice a few times. 
8. Once cooled divide amongst 6 bowls.
9. Arrange avocado, peppers, onions and cucumbers on top of rice 
10. Top with tbsp or so of crab.
11. Sprinkle with seaweed if desired.

Note: You could add a dash of soy sauce before you add the crab if you'd like.

Avocado Strawberry Smoothie

When my son saw the avocado on the cutting board he wasn't sure he wanted to try this concoction. He didn't think it belonged in a drink! I managed to convince him to try it and thankfully he loved it...the cool straw helped (a present from the amazing Anabel!) This is a great smoothie for afternoon snacks for the kids. It will keep them full until dinner!

Avocado makes a great smoothie ingredient because it results in an incredibly smooth and creamy drink. Since this has avocado and banana this smoothie is quite thick. If it's too thick for your liking add a bit more water or juice.

Makes 2 small smoothies.

Ingredients

1/2 avocado
1/2 banana
5 strawberries
1/2 c yogurt
1/2 c milk
1/2 c orange juice or water (optional)

Directions

Place everything in blender or Nutribullet.
Blend for 45 seconds.

Tuna Salad in an Avocado Ring Recipe

Have you ever used a ring mold? I hadn't as it seemed too complicated and time consuming...I was wrong! I was reading other blogs one day when I came across a blog called Apples and Butter. Among many great posts she had one for a gazpacho garnish that was increbibly cute. Although I hate gazpacho, I loved the avocado ring idea. I used it as part of my tuna salad dinner that night. Luckily, I had bought a couple ring molds a few months ago but had never opened the package!

I placed the ring on top of a bed of spinach and placed the avocado slices around the ring. Then, I filled it with the salad and voila, a delcious and fun dinner was ready!

If you don't like tuna or gazpacho, fill the ring with something else - chicken salad, rice and nori, greek salad are just a few ideas.

Makes two salads. A ring mold is required - I used a 4 inch ring.

Ingredients
2 avocados
1/4 c grapes, halved
handful of chives, chopped
1 can tuna
6 sweet gherkins or other pickle, diced
3 tbsp mayo or salad dressing
1/2 red onion, diced
2 cups spinach leaves, washed and dried
1 celery stalk, chopped
dash of pepper and garlic powder

What to do

• Mix the tuna, pepper and garlic, mayo, gherkins, onion and celery in a medium sized bowl.
• Set aside.
• Place a thin bed of spinach leaves on plate.
• Set aside.
• Cut avocado in half lengthwise.
• Remove pit.
• Remove skin.
• Slice avocado length wise into thin strips.
• Spray the ring mold with non-stick spray.
• Place the avocado (cut side down) against the mold.
• Continue to overlap the avocado slices until the mold in completely lined.
• Press the avocado against the sides of the mold to ensure it is placed securely.
• Spoon tuna salad into the mold ensuring it is well packed.
• Place halved grapes and chives on top of salad.
• Carefully remove the ring!
• Repeat everything to make another serving.
• Enjoy :)