Are you an avocadotarian? Could you eat an avocado every day? I could, and have – and maybe more than one! 
Even though avocados are considered a “healthy” superfood, the good-for-you fats and calories can start to add up when overindulging on this rich, creamy fruit. Sometimes you still want to eat the whole bowl of guac, but don’t want that heavy stuffed feeling — say yay for my lighter Skinny Garden Guacamole. Continue reading
This post is sponsored by Now Foods via Mamavation.
One of the best things about summer is the abundance of amazing fruit at every turn. Watermelons, berries, stone fruits, and exotic discoveries like golden kiwis! While everyday green kiwis are pretty darn good, the golden kiwi is especially exceptional. It’s a bit bigger and bursting with supersized flavor – so sweet! My recipe for Gold Kiwi, Apricot & Feta Salad with Honey Hemp Dressing takes advantage of the season’s best offerings – and a yummy salty-sweet taste!
If you’re not familiar with hemp seeds, let me introduce you! Hemp seeds have so many nutritional benefits – this superfood is an excellent source of heart-healthy fats, is a complete protein providing all eight amino acids, and is rich in numerous vitamins and other essential nutrients. A tablespoon or so a day is the perfect nutrition boost for everyone, but an especially great option for those following a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. I’ve used NOW Real Food® Organic Toasted Hemp Seeds in my fresh and fit recipe – this seeds are lightly toasted and sprinkled with sea salt to enhance their nutty flavor.
Gold Kiwi, Apricot & Feta Salad with Honey Hemp Dressing Recipe
Here are some other wholesome ingredients from NOW Foods that I have been enjoying this summer in my healthy recipes:
Tri Color Quinoa – I’m a big fan of quinoa, especially on those nights when I’m making a meat-free meal. This product in the wholesome LivingNOW line features a pleasing blend of white, red and black quinoa and is certified organic and made in a dedicated gluten-free, allergy-friendly facility. Quinoa is a great source of protein and iron, making it a hearty and healthy meal when mixed with seasonal fresh produce. One of the easy salad dishes I like to make in the summer is my recipe for Triple Berry Quinoa Salad – it would be perfect for the 4th of July!
All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour – Have gluten allergies? You can get out your mixing bowl and start baking again. This gluten-free baking flour uses ingredients that are free of gluten and eight of the most common food allergens. The texture is surprisingly light and fluffy, making it perfect for cookies, coffee cakes, bread and more!
Ellyndale Organics™ Coconut Oil Infusions – Enjoy the rich taste of coconut oil (along with the health benefits) AND a punch of garlic with this oh-so-yummy oil. It’s great for sauteeing thanks to a high smoke point, but it’s also good on salads and . . . wait for it . . .POPCORN made in the microwave with a brown paper bag
Ellyndale Naturals™ Premium Avocado Oil Did you know Prevention Magazine named this versatile oil to their list of “100 Healthiest Packaged Foods” — it’s all the healthy monounsaturated fats and Vitamin E! Perfect for sautéing and stir-frying thanks to the high smoke point of approximately 520°F! Avocado Oil is ideal for high-heat cooking such as sautéing and stir-frying – or just drizzle on your salads and other raw dishes for butter-rich deliciousness.
Stock up on these Pantry Staples:
What is your favorite fruit of summer? Have you ever tried hemp seed, how did you use it? Please share in the comments below! XOXO -Jennifer
I picked a peck of “Sharon” persimmons from Frieda’s Produce – I’ve never had one of these curious fruits in my life! This particular “Sharon” type of persimmon is tomato-shaped with a smooth skin of pale orange to orange-red with a sweet, mild flavor and is nearly seedless. So, I put these pretty little thinks on the counter to ripen like a tomato, but no change . . . for weeks! So finally, I sliced into one and was very surprised to find out how sweet and ready to eat it as it was!
Health and Nutrition Benefits of Persimmons: This sweet and pulpy fruit is packed with a variety of health benefits. For example, the “divine fruit” provides nearly 80% of the daily value for vitamin C and is a good source of fiber. Persimmons are high in other vitamin and mineral content including vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin B6 along with manganese, copper, potassium and phosphorous. Benefits from the range of these nutrients have been linked to reduction in certain types of cancer, improved eye health, lowered blood pressure, relief from digestive issues and more. A serving of persimmon (100 grams) has 70 calories and almost no fat.
Back to my persimmon windfall . . . I wasn’t really sure how to eat persimmons, outside of slices. Though about grilling some (and still may), but then decided to pair up with the best avocados from California – because everything is awesome with avocado! Am I right?! BTW, California avocados are in season right now and so much better than the ones exported from across the border year-round. 
Hope you enjoy my recipe for Persimmon Avocado Feta Salad with Chili-dusted Shrimp and Lime Vinaigrette –it tastes as yummy as it is colorful. Plus, it’s a light, healthy Paleo-friendly dish (omit the cheese if you must) providing lean protein from the shrimp, vitamin A and C from the persimmon, and heart-healthy fats thanks to creamy, dreamy avocado.
Have you ever tried a persimmon before?
How many avocados do you eat per week?
What are you doing to be active this week?
Please share any or all in the comments below! xoxo Jennifer
This post is sponsored by ConAgra RO*TEL.
We know how to put on a fiesta every weekend here in Texas. But, Cinco de Mayo is an extra special reason to celebrate because five out of seven years the party falls on a work day – and that’s a legitimate reason to tell the boss “adios” and cut loose early to enjoy some patio time. This year, Cinco de Mayo is on a Tuesday which so conveniently aligns with Taco Tuesday, Tostado Tuesday and Guacamole & Tortilla Chips Tuesday. I am a food blogger and thus allowed to make up these extra observances dedicated to food and drink.
There can be no fiesta without guacamole. In these parts, guacamole is not just a healthy dip and satiating snack — it’s an appetizer that draws people together, have you ever seen the mob scene near the guacamole bowl?! Smashed up avocado is also a condiment smeared on everything from eggs and enchiladas to burgers and burritos, and salads and sandwiches – and, of course, devoured right off a dipped chip. You can even serve it up with a super healthy spin by serving it in tomato cups along with mild green chilies! Ole!
There are only four ingredients (plus salt and pepper) in RO*TEL’s Rockin’ Guac – more time to enjoy the fiesta!
One of the best recipes I’ve found is RO*TEL’s Rockin’ Guac – it’s so simple to make and gets a zesty (but not too spicy) kick from the tomatoes and green chilies.
I’m keeping things simple this Cinco de Mayo and making Black Bean, Zucchini and Corn Tacos – they are just screaming for RO*TEL’s Rockin’ Guac! It’s a vegetarian recipe, but even those carnivorous folks in the crowd love it (I think it’s the guac that makes it so satisfying). The beauty of this recipe is that I can sauté the veggies up in a skillet, keep it warm, and then sit back and enjoy the party – no sweating over the grill!
So, what will we all drink? Creamy watermelon smoothies for the kids and the adults will enjoy Bud Light Lime-A-Ritas, a margarita-like drink that isn’t quite as strong. Tequila has never agreed with me, so these perfectly-portioned cans of yum (made with malt alcohol) don’t give me a hideous hangover the next day. That is a GOOD thing to ensure I can fiesta on the Seis de Mayo, too!
Zest up your fiesta with RO*TEL’s Rockin Guac and Bud Light’s Lime-A-Rita. How are you planning to celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
Bud Light Lime-A-Rita® is a registered trademark of Anheuser-Busch. ConAgra Foods, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This post is sponsored by ConAgra RO*TEL.
It’s spring and my family has a lot of things to celebrate in the next couple months. Two of the landmark events we’ll be hosting shindigs for are my Dad’s 70th birthday and my oldest son graduating from high school! And, of course, there’s Cinco de Mayo sandwiched right between and we like to do that up big in Texas.
I need RO*TEL’s Rockin’ Guac and a Bud Light Lime-A-Rita to go with this taco!
I’m pretty low-key when it comes to entertaining, it’s a safe bet that I’ll be serving up burgers, brisket or tacos in my backyard. I have three super-hungry, carnivorous teen boys, for goodness sake! These casual meals always please crowds, are easy to scale up for a super-sized party, and can be mostly pre-prepped so I’m not stuck in the kitchen cooking while all the guests are having a good time. Nothing pairs better with any of these dishes than a creamy bowl of avocado goodness — hurray for guacamole!
I found this delicious recipe for RO*TEL’s Rockin’ Guac that will turn up the volume on your taste buds! The blend of tomatoes and green chilies in RO*TEL add a zesty (but not too spicy) twang to the dip that is to die for. It’s so simple to make you can delegate the job to your kids — you may want to chop the onion first, but they’ll love smashing the avocado. Serve this guacamole as a condiment or topping for the entrée or, better yet, as an appetizer – set out a big basket of tortilla chips and a bowl of RO*TEL’s Rockin’ Guac for a pleasing prelude to dinner.
Try mini bowls of RO*TEL’s Rockin’ Guac so guests can walk around and mingle – this way people won’t have to elbow their way in for a chip dunk or (eek) double dip into the community bowl! For easy clean up, you can even use those little plastic condiment cups. In addition to tortilla chips, I like to set out crunchy, fresh vegetables to dip into guacamole. I can’t help it, I’m a vegetable nerd.
Now, you can’t have guacamole without some sort of cool refreshing drink. I’ll serve up my watermelon ginger limeade or virgin mojito mint tea for the kids and the over 21-year-old grown-ups get Bud Light Lime-A-Ritas all the way around! I love these refreshing adult beverages, they totally remind me of a margarita yet aren’t quite as potent, which is a good thing for lightweight little me. Bud Light Lime-A-Ritas come conveniently in a can, meaning no breakable barware outside when things start to get wild– just throw these citrusy sippers into a tub full of ice as they await their ultimate fate. I’m ready to pop the top on one right now and get the party started!
Zest up your fiesta with RO*TEL’s Rockin Guac and Bud Light’s Lime-A-Rita.
Bud Light Lime-A-Rita® is a registered trademark of Anheuser-Busch.
ConAgra Foods, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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