A Cinco de Mayo, must: Guacamole

No surprise here: I make ALL of my dips, spreads, sauces, and dressings from scratch -- OUTSIDE of the Box. They are simple to make and the taste is sooooooo worth the small effort.

To celebrate, Cinco de Mayo...Here's a simple, delicious Guacamole recipe that will please any crowd -- from my cookbook -- Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box.
 
 
Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box with Chrisetta Mosley

60 simple, delicious, healthy recipes

Reconnect with your food and take control of your health in your very own kitchen using this collection of simple recipes focusing on whole, natural foods.

GUACAMOLE

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 5 MINUTES
SERVES 6

Ingredients 


3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
1 lime, juiced 
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more if you like it spicy)
1/4 medium red onion, diced
1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
1 big handful fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
Baked Tortilla Chips, (page 47) for serving, optional

Directions

Halve and pit the avocados, then scoop out the flesh with a spoon into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados with a fork, leaving them still a bit chunky. Add the remaining ingredients and gently fold everything together.

Lay a piece of plastic wrap right on the surface of the guacamole so it doesn't brown and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Prep time

I’ll be honest, shopping, cooking, and eating “Outside of the Box” requires a commitment. Having a plan of action will save time and ultimately make the days easier.

For most folks, one of the biggest challenges to eating and living “Outside of the Box” is being prepared. On the food front: Being prepared means of course grocery shopping, but it also means once home with the goods taking it one step further — prepping. Slicing and chopping the fresh produce, hard-boiling eggs, making side dishes, making a pot of beans and/or grains, packaging up nuts and grains, etc.

Though, I am fortunate to work for myself from home or near home. I still benefit and stay on track better when I am prepared.  I dedicated part of my Saturday to prep time. So, this week when I'm blogging and my stomach starts grumbling I can just go grab a quick snack. Or after a day of talks and presentations I can come home and reheat with ease.

I prepped fresh veggies (carrots, cucumbers, and mushrooms), made a pot of wheat berries, and three side dishes (Sautéed Collard Greens with Garlic, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower).

Prepping tips:

Fresh produce always takes a little prep time. Do it in bulk right when you get home from the grocery store that way you'll be prepared throughout the week.

1. Pull out a cutting board, a colander, knife, produce peeler.
2. Rinse and/or peel produce. Get to slicing.
3. As you're slicing, put on the pot of beans, grains, eggs (cook as directed).
4. After vegetables are sliced either place in storage bags/containers or prepare as side dishes.
6. Once beans, grains, or eggs are finished cooking.  Allow to cool slightly and then store in fridge.

There you have it, prep time made easy. Happy Shopping, Prepping, Cooking, and Eating! 

A peek at the side dishes I whipped up:

Outside of the Box: Cookin' with teens

Wow. Just when I think it can't get any better it does. Last night, I hosted a cooking demo for teens at the Cascade Park Community Library.

The youth and teens are our future. And, I'm proud and honored to help them make better, informed food decisions. I tell you -- it's the most AWESOME feeling, to look around the room at young enthusiastic faces and see their bulbs shining brighter and brighter as I introduce ingredients and talk techniques. My message is simple: Any and everything that is in a box or package can be made at home using fresh, whole ingredients.

To drive home the point, I whipped up a few healthy favorites -- Blueberry Banana Kale Smoothies, Cashew Whole Food Energy Bars, and two types of Brown Bag Popcorn (Parmesan and Honey Butter).

They were amazed at how easy these goods were to make.  When I asked them the burning question at the end of our time together..."Can you do this?" They all eagerly answered "Yes." Will you do this? Again they answered "Yes." Music to my ears.

Thanks again for having me, Linda Landi,Teen Librarian and Teresa Torres, Branch Librarian. And to the teens that came out thanks for a delicious fun time! Happy Shopping, Cooking, and Eating!