Want to Eat it Today?

An avocado that is ripe and ready to eat will be forest green. You should be able to easily flick off the avocado’s little nub on its top side. It should feel a bit soft to the touch when you gently squeeze it.

It’s Gone Bad

An avocado has gone bad if the color is going past green into brownish territory and feels slack in your hand. If the skin is falling away from the fruit on its own, the avocado is probably overripe.

Not Ready Yet

If your avocado is lighter green and still firm, it’s not ready to eat yet. While you wait for it to ripen, set it on the counter for three to five days. If you’re really impatient, you can ripen the avocado in a paper bag with a banana. That’ll make it ready to go in just a day or two.

The post How To Choose An Avocado appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Avocado

All guacamole-lovers knew this one was coming. Indeed, a mushy avocado is exactly what one needs if they’re trying to make themselves a fresh, tasty mix of guac. The mushier, the easier it is to mash up and mix in whichever seasonings you like!

Banana

Banana is another great example of a food that can benefit if it’s mushy. “Can” is the key word here because a solid banana is great on its own as well. It’s just that a mushy food can, alternatively, provide great fodder for a sweet, tasty, banana cake recipe.

Salmon

Perhaps this one is more about personal taste, but we can’t stand cooked salmon when it’s too dry. Does that mean that we’d prefer it to be mushy? To be honest, somewhere in the middle would be preferable, but we’d definitely rather it be moist than hard and dry.

The post 3 Foods That are Sometimes Good When They’re Mushy appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Step 1: Color

Most people rely on visual cues when determining the ripeness of certain fruits. This method doesn’t always work, but it can come in handy in the case of avocados. The ones with dark green or nearly black skin are ripe enough and can be eaten right away. That’s not the case with green avocados and you’ll wait for them to ripen before eating them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Louise Morrison (@frommyhome_toyours)

Step 2: Texture

The texture is another external factor that will help you determine an avocado’s ripeness. Avocados that have a bumpy texture, in addition to dark green color, are usually perfectly ripe and ready for consumption, but that’s rarely the case with smooth ones.

Step 3: Firmness

If color and texture aren’t giving you enough cues about the ripeness of avocados, it’s time to check their firmness. Ripe avocados usually feel feels slightly soft but not too mushy when you gently squeeze them because they’re one of those fruits that soften as they ripen.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by liz | STL lifestyle creator (@heyitslizb)

The post Top 3 Tips for Picking Perfectly Ripe Avocado Every Time appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Wrap Them Up

Leaving your avocados in your fridge as they are won’t do them any favors. The least you can do to delay the browning process is to cover them with some plastic wrap.

Olive Oil

A tiny drop of olive oil can help you keep your cut avocados fresh for longer. Brush your halved avocados with olive oil that doesn’t have a strong taste and store them in an airtight container to prevent them from browning.

Lemon to the Rescue

The olive oil method can also be repeated with lemon or lime juice. Just like all the other citrus fruits, lemon contains strong antioxidants, which can come in handy in this situation.

Onion Method

Avocados and onions may not seem like the perfect combo, but they are. If none of the previous methods work, chop some red onions and place them in an airtight container with avocados on top. Their strong vapors will prolong the browning process of your avocados.

The post Stop Your Avocados From Turning Brown with These Useful Hacks appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Picking Avocados

The first secret to making amazing avocado toast is using ripe, but not overly ripe Hass avocados. Look for ones that can be squeezed, but aren’t super mushy. If your avocado is browning, cut those parts out when you open it before mashing the rest of it.

Good Bread

The best bread to use for avocado toast is thick-slicked whole grain bread. Make sure it’s well toasted before you slather your avocado onto it.

Mash You Avocado Separately

Mashed avocado will taste better than sliced avocado, and whatever you do, don’t mash it on the toast. You can get holes and break your toast into pieces this way. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, scoop the flesh into a bowl, and mash it up with a fork.

Don’t Forget the Salt

Each avocado half needs at least a pinch of salt. It’s even better when topped with flaky sea salt.

Extra Additives

To make your avocado toast even tastier, mix in a pinch of garlic powder with the avocado or rub a peeled garlic glove over your toast before adding the avocado. You can also add fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, or parsley. Other things you can add include a fried egg, picked onions, radishes, jalapenos, hot sauce, or sliced cherry tomatoes.

The post Here’s How to Make the Best Avocado Toast appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Unfortunately, as anyone who has ever ordered avocado toast at a restaurant before probably knows, the price that you generally pay for this meal is disproportionately high! So, why not learn how to make it at home? Here’s how!

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of high-quality bread (preferably whole wheat and/or artesanal, from a local bakery)
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Start off by heating up a skillet or a toaster. Once this device is ready, add a little bit of olive oil on the outside of your bread and toast it until it is golden-brown and firm. This is the first step to enjoying great avocado toast!
2. Next, open up the ripe avocado, remove the pit, and take out all of the delicious, creamy flesh with a spoon. Put it into a small bowl, and then add the olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper.
3. Mash all of the ingredients together with a spoon until it has reached a creamy and smooth consistency.
4. Take the toast, spread this avocado mix on top of each piece, and there you have it! Your avocado toast is ready to enjoy.

The post Making Your Own Avocado Toast is Easier Than You Think appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Instructions

1. Start off by mashing a can of cooked chickpeas until there are just a few lumps left. You can use a fork or a potato masher.
2. Add to that 1 1/2 avocados. The avocados should be very ripe because they will get mashed too.
3. Mash together the avocado with the chickpeas until it is smooth.
4. Add in 1/2 cup of diced celery, 1 small red onion diced, a tablespoon of fresh cut dill, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
5. As you mix everything together to combine, add in 1/2 of a lime juiced to make things easier and to bring out the avocado flavor.
6. Chill in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before eating, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 days. Enjoy!

The post This Vegan Tuna Salad Has Everything You Want appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

For all the ladies who are searching for easy ways to get all the nutrients they need, this recipe will blow your mind. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to make it.

Ingredients:

For this tasty cold avocado soup, you will need:

3 large avocados
2 large tomatoes
1 large cucumber
1/2 medium red onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon sea salt,
1/2 cup water

Also, squeeze the juice of two limes.

Procedure:

This is the easiest and fastest cold avocado soup recipe ever. All you have to do is to put the ingredients into a blender and blend them together until you get a creamy mixture. Before putting the avocado in the blender, make sure to leave pieces to top off the soup once it’s done. You can do a raw cold soup as well, by simply eliminating the water and hot sauce. Some people love to give it extra flavor by adding black pepper. The preparation time is around 15 minutes.

The post The Perfect Cold Summer Avocado Soup Recipe appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

For this tasty summer treat you will need 3 avocados, that are medium ripe. 1 cup of sour cream. 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon squeezed lime juice, 1/2 cup heavy cream and just a tiny bit of salt. The best thing is that you probably already have all these things in your freezer.

Method:

This is really simple: just let the appliances do all the work. The first thing you have to do is scoop out the flesh of the three avocados. Put the content in your blender. Now you have to add the lime juice, sour cream, heavy cream, sugar and the salt. Blend the mixture until you get a perfect paste. Your ice cream is almost ready. Put the mixture in an ice cream maker and the time depends on how you prefer to have it. If you prefer to have it firmer, keep it in the freezer for several hours. I promise you, this avocado ice cream recipe will change your life.

The post Fabulous Avocado Ice Cream Recipe You’ll Crave For Every Day appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Coconut Butter

This is a healthy and delicious butter alternative. If you prefer to avoid lactose and those extra calories, you should definitely opt for coconut butter. It has the ability to prevent and fight inflammation, and boost the immune system.

Applesauce

Applesauce will not only make your meals healthier, but it will also give the baked goods a special hint of taste. You can use it in a number of recipes without having to worry if it will be a good butter substitute. The best thing about applesauce is that it’s rich in Vitamin C, and provides a sweet taste to the cooking without adding calories.

Avocado

Avocado is one of the most talked-about fruits at the moment. And the whole craze is because of its many benefits to the health. First of all, it contains numerous essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin K, B2, B3, B5, magnesium, potassium, iron, folic acid and more.

Prune Puree

When it comes to healthy butter alternatives for baking, prune puree should be somewhere on top of your list. The best way to use it is for sweet baked goods such as cookies, muffins, cakes, and brownies.

The post Best Butter Alternatives For Baking appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Want to Eat it Today?

An avocado that is ripe and ready to eat will be forest green. You should be able to easily flick off the avocado’s little nub on its top side. It should feel a bit soft to the touch when you gently squeeze it.

It’s Gone Bad

An avocado has gone bad if the color is going past green into brownish territory and feels slack in your hand. If the skin is falling away from the fruit on its own, the avocado is probably overripe.

Not Ready Yet

If your avocado is lighter green and still firm, it’s not ready to eat yet. While you wait for it to ripen, set it on the counter for three to five days. If you’re really impatient, you can ripen the avocado in a paper bag with a banana. That’ll make it ready to go in just a day or two.

The post How To Choose An Avocado appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Avocado

All guacamole-lovers knew this one was coming. Indeed, a mushy avocado is exactly what one needs if they’re trying to make themselves a fresh, tasty mix of guac. The mushier, the easier it is to mash up and mix in whichever seasonings you like!

Banana

Banana is another great example of a food that can benefit if it’s mushy. “Can” is the key word here because a solid banana is great on its own as well. It’s just that a mushy food can, alternatively, provide great fodder for a sweet, tasty, banana cake recipe.

Salmon

Perhaps this one is more about personal taste, but we can’t stand cooked salmon when it’s too dry. Does that mean that we’d prefer it to be mushy? To be honest, somewhere in the middle would be preferable, but we’d definitely rather it be moist than hard and dry.

The post 3 Foods That are Sometimes Good When They’re Mushy appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Step 1: Color

Most people rely on visual cues when determining the ripeness of certain fruits. This method doesn’t always work, but it can come in handy in the case of avocados. The ones with dark green or nearly black skin are ripe enough and can be eaten right away. That’s not the case with green avocados and you’ll wait for them to ripen before eating them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Louise Morrison (@frommyhome_toyours)

Step 2: Texture

The texture is another external factor that will help you determine an avocado’s ripeness. Avocados that have a bumpy texture, in addition to dark green color, are usually perfectly ripe and ready for consumption, but that’s rarely the case with smooth ones.

Step 3: Firmness

If color and texture aren’t giving you enough cues about the ripeness of avocados, it’s time to check their firmness. Ripe avocados usually feel feels slightly soft but not too mushy when you gently squeeze them because they’re one of those fruits that soften as they ripen.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by liz | STL lifestyle creator (@heyitslizb)

The post Top 3 Tips for Picking Perfectly Ripe Avocado Every Time appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Wrap Them Up

Leaving your avocados in your fridge as they are won’t do them any favors. The least you can do to delay the browning process is to cover them with some plastic wrap.

Olive Oil

A tiny drop of olive oil can help you keep your cut avocados fresh for longer. Brush your halved avocados with olive oil that doesn’t have a strong taste and store them in an airtight container to prevent them from browning.

Lemon to the Rescue

The olive oil method can also be repeated with lemon or lime juice. Just like all the other citrus fruits, lemon contains strong antioxidants, which can come in handy in this situation.

Onion Method

Avocados and onions may not seem like the perfect combo, but they are. If none of the previous methods work, chop some red onions and place them in an airtight container with avocados on top. Their strong vapors will prolong the browning process of your avocados.

The post Stop Your Avocados From Turning Brown with These Useful Hacks appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Picking Avocados

The first secret to making amazing avocado toast is using ripe, but not overly ripe Hass avocados. Look for ones that can be squeezed, but aren’t super mushy. If your avocado is browning, cut those parts out when you open it before mashing the rest of it.

Good Bread

The best bread to use for avocado toast is thick-slicked whole grain bread. Make sure it’s well toasted before you slather your avocado onto it.

Mash You Avocado Separately

Mashed avocado will taste better than sliced avocado, and whatever you do, don’t mash it on the toast. You can get holes and break your toast into pieces this way. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, scoop the flesh into a bowl, and mash it up with a fork.

Don’t Forget the Salt

Each avocado half needs at least a pinch of salt. It’s even better when topped with flaky sea salt.

Extra Additives

To make your avocado toast even tastier, mix in a pinch of garlic powder with the avocado or rub a peeled garlic glove over your toast before adding the avocado. You can also add fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, or parsley. Other things you can add include a fried egg, picked onions, radishes, jalapenos, hot sauce, or sliced cherry tomatoes.

The post Here’s How to Make the Best Avocado Toast appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Unfortunately, as anyone who has ever ordered avocado toast at a restaurant before probably knows, the price that you generally pay for this meal is disproportionately high! So, why not learn how to make it at home? Here’s how!

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of high-quality bread (preferably whole wheat and/or artesanal, from a local bakery)
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Start off by heating up a skillet or a toaster. Once this device is ready, add a little bit of olive oil on the outside of your bread and toast it until it is golden-brown and firm. This is the first step to enjoying great avocado toast!
2. Next, open up the ripe avocado, remove the pit, and take out all of the delicious, creamy flesh with a spoon. Put it into a small bowl, and then add the olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper.
3. Mash all of the ingredients together with a spoon until it has reached a creamy and smooth consistency.
4. Take the toast, spread this avocado mix on top of each piece, and there you have it! Your avocado toast is ready to enjoy.

The post Making Your Own Avocado Toast is Easier Than You Think appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Instructions

1. Start off by mashing a can of cooked chickpeas until there are just a few lumps left. You can use a fork or a potato masher.
2. Add to that 1 1/2 avocados. The avocados should be very ripe because they will get mashed too.
3. Mash together the avocado with the chickpeas until it is smooth.
4. Add in 1/2 cup of diced celery, 1 small red onion diced, a tablespoon of fresh cut dill, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
5. As you mix everything together to combine, add in 1/2 of a lime juiced to make things easier and to bring out the avocado flavor.
6. Chill in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before eating, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2 days. Enjoy!

The post This Vegan Tuna Salad Has Everything You Want appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

For all the ladies who are searching for easy ways to get all the nutrients they need, this recipe will blow your mind. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to make it.

Ingredients:

For this tasty cold avocado soup, you will need:

3 large avocados
2 large tomatoes
1 large cucumber
1/2 medium red onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon sea salt,
1/2 cup water

Also, squeeze the juice of two limes.

Procedure:

This is the easiest and fastest cold avocado soup recipe ever. All you have to do is to put the ingredients into a blender and blend them together until you get a creamy mixture. Before putting the avocado in the blender, make sure to leave pieces to top off the soup once it’s done. You can do a raw cold soup as well, by simply eliminating the water and hot sauce. Some people love to give it extra flavor by adding black pepper. The preparation time is around 15 minutes.

The post The Perfect Cold Summer Avocado Soup Recipe appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

For this tasty summer treat you will need 3 avocados, that are medium ripe. 1 cup of sour cream. 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon squeezed lime juice, 1/2 cup heavy cream and just a tiny bit of salt. The best thing is that you probably already have all these things in your freezer.

Method:

This is really simple: just let the appliances do all the work. The first thing you have to do is scoop out the flesh of the three avocados. Put the content in your blender. Now you have to add the lime juice, sour cream, heavy cream, sugar and the salt. Blend the mixture until you get a perfect paste. Your ice cream is almost ready. Put the mixture in an ice cream maker and the time depends on how you prefer to have it. If you prefer to have it firmer, keep it in the freezer for several hours. I promise you, this avocado ice cream recipe will change your life.

The post Fabulous Avocado Ice Cream Recipe You’ll Crave For Every Day appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Coconut Butter

This is a healthy and delicious butter alternative. If you prefer to avoid lactose and those extra calories, you should definitely opt for coconut butter. It has the ability to prevent and fight inflammation, and boost the immune system.

Applesauce

Applesauce will not only make your meals healthier, but it will also give the baked goods a special hint of taste. You can use it in a number of recipes without having to worry if it will be a good butter substitute. The best thing about applesauce is that it’s rich in Vitamin C, and provides a sweet taste to the cooking without adding calories.

Avocado

Avocado is one of the most talked-about fruits at the moment. And the whole craze is because of its many benefits to the health. First of all, it contains numerous essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin K, B2, B3, B5, magnesium, potassium, iron, folic acid and more.

Prune Puree

When it comes to healthy butter alternatives for baking, prune puree should be somewhere on top of your list. The best way to use it is for sweet baked goods such as cookies, muffins, cakes, and brownies.

The post Best Butter Alternatives For Baking appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.