Simple & Fresh. I have been toying with this recipe for a while and I think I got it right. Avocados have endless benefits. Each one packed full of essential vitamins, fiber, more potassium than a banana, low sugar, and high in healthy fats. They are also great for young kids and adults and those with food sensitivities. And because they are full of healthy fats, one avocado can keep you feeling satisfied.  The goal of this recipe, yet simple, is to show off the avocado, while boosting the fruit’s flavor with bright notes of lime, cilantro, and spice!

Is it ripe? Always a struggle. I can be seen countless times in the produce section handling dozens of avocados just to find the perfect ones. The key to ripeness: the avocado skin should give slightly, when held and pressed and be free of bruises. If it gives too freely, your avocado is probably over ripe and if it does not give at all it is probably not ripe and you will have a problem mashing the fruit. Tips! If in a pinch you need to ripen your avocados fast, pop them in to a paper bag for a day. Adding a banana or an apple to the bag can speed this process up further.  Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that is released from the skins of ripening fruit. It is actually the chemical that makes tomatoes turn red and bananas yellow. It has the affect of ripening any surrounding fruits, too. I have made the mistake on getting really excited for making guacamole and not finding ripe avocados that day at the market so plan accordingly.

Citrus Press. BEST TOOL EVER! My recipes call for lots of citrus and extracting the juice can be a painstaking process. I do not know why I hadn’t purchased one sooner. I witnessed a friend of mine using The Citrus Press as she made the best Grapefruit Margarita… WOW! It packed a citrus punch! Grapefruit, lime, tequila, agave syrup…. YUM (will have to hunt that recipe down and post!) Anyways, I knew I had to purchase this tool ASAP. It will make all your citrus needs a breeze. The one I purchased was about $10.