Avocado Hummus

Ingredients

2 (15oz.) cans chick peas
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
3-4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp Tahini
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
dash of nutmeg
dash of cinnamon
dash of ground cloves
fresh black pepper
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 ripe avocado

Directions

Drain beans and rinse in a colander until water runs clear. Puree beans with garlic in a food processor.
Add remaining ingredients and blend until thick and smooth. Add more salt or lemon juice if desired.
Transfer to a bowl, cover, and chill until ready to serve.

Source

This recipe called for Garam Masala which is a traditional Indian seasoning which is made up of cardamom seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, stick cinnamon, whole cloves, dried nutmeg, and turmeric in which you grind up fresh in a coffee grinder. I just used dashes of what I had on hand instead of creating it myself.

Chilled Avocado Soup Shots with Spicy Breadcrumbs

Ingredients

Soup

1 large ripe avocado (11 to 12 ounces), halved, pitted, peeled, diced
1 1/2 cups (or more) vegetable broth or low-salt chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Generous pinch of coarse kosher salt

Breadcrumbs

1 4x4x1/2-inch slice soft white sandwich bread with crust
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Soup

Place diced avocado in blender. Add 1 1/2 cups broth, whipping cream, lime juice, and coarse salt. Puree until smooth. Transfer soup to 4-cup measuring cup; add more broth by 1/4 cupfuls to thin soup, if desired. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

DO AHEAD Soup can be made up to 4 hours ahead. Keep chilled.

Breadcrumbs

Finely grind bread in processor. Melt butter in medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add breadcrumbs to skillet; stir until golden, about 1 minute. Add paprika, coarse salt, and cayenne; stir until crumbs are crisp, about 1 minute longer. Transfer to small bowl and cool.

DO AHEAD Breadcrumbs can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.

Pour cold soup into eight 1/3-cup glasses or other small glasses. Sprinkle each serving lightly with breadcrumbs.

Source: Bon Appetit, June 2010

Fresh Guacamole

Ingredients

2 ripe avocados
1 roma tomato
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 juice of a lime
1 jalapeno pepper
1 tbs. fresh cilantro

Directions

Peel and dice the onion and garlic cloves. Combine with diced jalapeno pepper, and avocado. Be sure to remove the white membrane and adjust the spiciness by removing the seeds. If you do not want spice, leave out the jalapeno. Mash to desired consistency. Add juice of one lime and fold in diced tomato. Add salt and pepper, season to taste. Add fresh cilantro if desired.

Source: Trader Joe's Guacamole Kit container

Review: Really easy to make! Be sure to season well with salt and pepper because avocado is very bland other wise. I heard if you put the pit of the avocado with the guacamole there is an enzyme that keeps the guacamole green.