Avocado & Tomato Summer Wrap (or Sandwich)

I've slowly come to enjoy avocado. Previous to my nutrient-dense eating, I hated the texture of this crazy green fruit.  But after learning of the crazy-awesome health benefits of it (such as this***), I started adding it slowly to my diet. Now I rather enjoy it, especially on my salads in small chunks and when making my funky guacamole. This is a great healthy sandwich you can put together that incorporates some avocado. I prefer the lettuce wrap version (find a big piece of romaine lettuce to wrap around your ingredients) but these photos show you the version with toasted bread as I was out of lettuce that day.

Ingredients: 
Sliced avocado
Sliced tomato
Your favorite dressing
Bread or romaine lettuce
Pinch of salt & pepper

Directions:
Toast your bread or lay our your romaine lettuce.
Spread your favorite dressing on the lettuce or bread. I used Walden Farms Thousand Island (gluten free, dairy free, and everything else-free). You could also try with with my homemade Sundried-Tomato & Macadamia Nut Pesto.

Layer on your avocado and tomato and sprinkle with a pinch of salt & fresh cracked pepper.

Feel free to add a side of your favorite fruit, veggies, salad, nuts, or my personal favorite, Quinoa Tabbouleh, as shown below! 

Happy summer eating!
-Lacey


***This one factoid on avocados had me especially impressed:
Better Nutrient Absorption: Research has found that certain nutrients are absorbed better when eaten with avocado. In one study, when participants ate a salad containing avocados, they absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids (a group of nutrients that includes lycopene and beta carotene) than those who didn't include avocados.

Guacamole with a Twist

I'm not just saying this because I made it, but I've never, ever, ever liked guacamole. Always tasted bland to me. I made this on a whim tonight with some leftover avocado from sushi from dinner the other night and I LOVE this. Love love love love.

Ingredients:
1/2 jalapeño pepper
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 cup onion
1 tablespoon lemon juice (or lime juice if you like. I'm not a fan)
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Pinch of sea salt
Itty bit of orange zest
1 avocado
1 small tomato (or 1/2 medium tomato) roughly cut up into 4 or 5 pieces.


Directions:
1. In a food processor, add jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, onion, lemon juice, cumin, chili powder, and sea salt. Pulse until all ingredients are chopped in small pieces.
2. Add avocado and orange zest and blend until mostly smooth (leaving little chunks is great!)
3. Add tomato pieces and pulse until chunks of tomato are left in the guacamole.
4. Enjoy on your salad, in your wraps, or as a yummy veggie dip.


***If you don't have a food processor, just finely chop all ingredients except avocado & tomato and mix together. Blend avocado in with fork and mix until mostly smooth. Add in bits of tomato at the very end for a chunky guacamole.***