It’s those days when I’m in the kitchen just chopping away that the best recipes are created. On this particular day, I had an avocado to use. That was the beginning of the following creation.
Avocado Dressed Salad
I didn’t write down the amount of anything used. I just grabbed, chopped and added to a bowl knowing that a mashed avocado with fresh lime juice would be my dressing. Here is the best that I can remember and I’m sure that if you modify based on your own likes/dislikes, the result will be just as good.
- 1 avocado – mashed *Take a knife and insert it into the avocado at the top, drawing around the long side in a complete 360 degree circle. Gently twist the avocado to separate and reveal the seed in the middle. Remove the seed with a spoon and scoop out the avocado “meat”.
- Juice of 1 lime.
- 1 TBS. lime juice
- 1 small cucumber peeled, seeded and diced.
- 2 plum tomatoes, chop small
- 1 large green tomato, chop small
- 1 small green bell pepper
- Approximately 1/2 cup chopped parsley
- 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp fresh black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Manuka honey
In a medium sized glass bowl, mash the avocado. Add the lime juices.
Add all other ingredients, mixing gently after each addition.
Serve as a small side dish on lettuce leaves.
- I didn’t write down the amount of anything used. I just grabbed, chopped and added to a bowl knowing that a mashed avocado with fresh lime juice would be my dressing. Here is the best that I can remember and I’m sure that if you modify based on your own likes/dislikes, the result will be just as good.
- 1 avocado – mashed *Take a knife and insert it into the avocado at the top, drawing around the long side in a complete 360 degree circle. Gently twist the avocado to separate and reveal the seed in the middle. Remove the seed with a spoon and scoop out the avocado “meat”.
- Juice of 1 lime.
- 1 TBS. lime juice
- 1 small cucumber peeled, seeded and diced.
- 2 plum tomatoes, chop small
- 1 large green tomato, chop small
- 1 small green bell pepper
- Approximately 1/2 cup chopped parsley
- 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp fresh black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Manuka honey
- For the avocado, take a knife and insert it into the avocado at the top, drawing around the long side in a complete 360 degree circle. Gently twist the avocado to separate and reveal the seed in the middle. Remove the seed with a spoon and scoop out the avocado “meat”.
- In a medium sized glass bowl, mash the avocado. Add the lime juices.
- Add all other ingredients, mixing gently after each addition.
- Serve as a small side dish on lettuce leaves.
My other obsession besides food happens to be running. Next weekend I’ll be running my 24th marathon. Hartford Eversource Marathon.
I started running the marathon distance in 2010 and I’ve said before that my relationship with this distance is one of love – hate, or rather hate-love. I enjoy the beginning of marathon training which is any where from 16 to 22 weeks. Those starting weeks are the first 6. Around week 18, I start to get burned out and struggle with the why and the how. Come marathon day, I absolutely DREAD the start. It’s that initial 3 mile hurdle then I’m good to go and go and goooo! But last night, I had an epiphany….
I really DO enjoy the beginning of a marathon. I enjoy visiting new places and experiencing the different ways, good and bad, that marathons start. The athlete atmosphere created by runners, the various amenities at the start to accommodate runners (or lack there of….amenities), the darkness of early morning starting times,…. It’s all an adrenaline rush. What I don’t like is once we all line up and have to wait for the starting horn. It would be really cool if we could be given a starting venue to arrive at our convenience within a designated time frame then cross the start timing mat when we felt we were ready. No gun, horn, whistle or someone shouting “GO!”. If I could ever organize my own marathon, maybe that’s how I would do it.
What happens to my head once I cross that start mat? First 3 to 6 miles, WHY am I doing this?? From 7 through 10, I begin to listen to other runners and become aware of the course. Around 11 miles I begin to think of just getting cross that half way point. Once past 13.1 miles, it seems the miles tick away a little quicker (even though I may be running slower). At 18 miles, I focus on just getting to mile 21. After mile 21, I set my sites on mile 25. Once I hit 25, it feels as if I have made it home. This is where the LOVE part of the relationship comes in. Once I cross that finish line mat, the feeling is indescribable It can’t be compared to anything else. The physical and mental relief of being able to stop running coupled with a gorgeous medal draped around my neck by people offering CONGRATULATIONS … it’s just … well indescribable. That is why I continue to run marathons.
I used to love the thought of how proud I made my parents. Now my mother has passed and my father is not in a way that he realizes that I run marathons. It comes down to being all about me. That’s what running and exercise in general is all about anyway. It IS all about me, YOU. No one else cares. The podium win is forgotten by friends and family after a while but only remembered by the finisher, you or me. That’s ok. We need to feel proud of ourselves. That’s what keeps us motivated to address the challenges in life. We don’t live our lives for others. We live our lives for ourselves. It’s not selfish. It’s life.
Why do you take on challenges in life and what is the reward gained?
Joanne
