Posts

Homemade Simple Guacamole

This homemade simple guacamole recipe is one you will make again and again and again. This video will take you through it step by simple step…
homemade simple guacamole

Guacamole is awesome. It’s really high on the list of great things that we can thank fresh avocados for. I mean, guacamole was around and amazing way before avocado toast.

Avocado toast is delicious, but guacamole is a classic. Everyone should have a great fresh homemade simple guacamole recipe in their arsenal. When you make this the first time — whether you serve it to thankful guests or eat the whole bowl yourself (and yes, I’ve been there done that…) — you will never buy store-bought guacamole again.

And it’s easy. Really easy.

 

I am going through this recipe with you, in real time, step by step.  A lot of times when I cook for you or cook with you, I don’t do it in real time because really I think it can be tedious  to watch me cook forever and take the time to do all of my prep. But today is different because I am making guacamole. And it’s simple.

This is something you can master in minutes.

It’s a must. Watch the video above or read the instructions below — but whatever you do, you’ve got to make this recipe over and over again. It’s that good.

download free ebook now

Download your free copy of my Radiant Skin Ebook now!

Okay, guacamole is delicious. You get the picture. But, guacamole is also a healing food. What’s better than a recipe that’s simple, delicious, and healing? Ummmm…. nothing!

Check out my article on the 5 Little Known Health Benefits of Avocados.  This gives you even more reasons to make homemade simple guacamole.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, I want you to follow along with the video above. Come on… make it with me; it’s fun to cook with someone else.

We’re going to use two ripe avocados. Now, I know the big joke with avocados is that one second they’re ripe, and then the next  second they are bad. So, here’s what you do.  Go to the supermarket or the farmers’ market and make a beeline to the avocados. Press on them as you would other fruit, like peaches or  nectarines.  You don’t want them to be mushy, but you don’t want them to be hard.

Peel off the little stem on top — it just flicks off with your fingernail.   When you look inside it should be green, not brown. If the avocado is a bit soft to the touch but the stem end is still green, that means it’s a good avocado. It’s ready to eat. So, if you want an avocado to eat soon, this is the one for you. Never buy the ones that are brown under the stem. These are overripe. If the avocado is still hard, you can buy it and then let it soften on your counter for a bit. Until you get used to doing it by touch alone, make sure you flick that little stem off.

For this homemade simple guacamole here’s what you need:  We’re using two avocados.  We’re using a handful of fresh cilantro. We’re using some tomatoes, as much as you like, or as little as you like. You can customize this recipe in so many ways. When I made my guac I had Roma tomatoes. I also had grape tomatoes. And, because it’s tomato season here,  I also had tomatoes on the vine. Use whatever’s ripest.

homemade simple guacamole

We’re going to use some red onions, as much or as little as you like. I had some tiny little red onions, so I used one. Often, I will use about a third or so of a regular sized red onion. And — really important — we’re using fresh lime juice. It depends on how juicy your limes are, but plan on the juice from one or two limes. Then we’re using sea salt. And that is it… unless you like a little hot sauce… you can put a little hot sauce in yours too, but that is really it. It doesn’t need anything else. Trust me on this.

And we don’t need any fancy equipment. I like to use my old fashioned potato masher… this makes it really easy.

So, here we go. Get your bowl ready. You can see in the video that I used my really cool bowl that’s made from a half a coconut… I just love this thing.

But here’s another tip to make this as easy as possible: Put your pretty little serving bowl off to the side. Grab your big mixing bowl and mash up the ingredients in that big bowl — it makes things so much easier. When you are done, you can transfer the guacamole to your pretty little bowl.

Okay, this is how you prepare an avocado. You can watch the video above to see — start to finish — how to easily get the flesh out of the avocado. We cut it down the center along the pit. We twist it open, and we take out the pit.

Instead of peeling the skin from it, which some people do, I find it easier to  take a spoon and scoop out all of the flesh.

When you are done scooping the luscious green flesh into the bowl, you’ll notice that there’s  a little bit of this flesh still inside the skins. Save this, turn it inside out, and rub it on your face. Yeah, you’ll look a bit like Elfaba, but it’s so good for your skin; the avocado really helps keep you luminescent.

homemade simple guacamole

Okay, so, the avocados are in the bowl. Next, dice up some tomatoes. Add them to the avocado.

By the way… let me digress a bit with a little interesting health information… avocados are good for hot flashes. And they are good for your mood. These are two really great reasons to make this homemade simple guacamole… I’m just sayin’…

Avocados actually are one of those feel-good foods that you hear me talk about.  They are included in my list of 17 Foods To Boost Your Mood. I know they taste good, but they’re also a feel-good food.

If you eat the right foods and herbs for your unique body and circumstances, you can heal yourself. All you need is the correct information. And I’m here to give it to you. So, make this homemade simple guacamole recipe. And, if you want to learn more about healing whatever your specific concerns are, I’d love to help you create a healthy lifestyle plan specifically for your unique needs, so sign up for a free phone consultation and we can chat about it.

The beauty of a recipe like this is that you can taste as you go and you can add more of something as you see fit.

Are you a cilantro lover? Cilantro is one of those ingredients you either love or hate. I’m a lover, so I use a bit of cilantro in my guacamole. I always put cilantro in my guacamole and even people who say they hate cilantro, love my guacamole. I think this may be because the fresh lime juice evens out the taste a bit.

Chop up the cilantro well. If you have a good chef’s knife, it makes a huge difference. If you are trying to do this with a knife that is dull, it’s not only is it dangerous, but you’re making a ton of extra work for yourself.

Next I want you to put in your red onion. Watch the video above to see the best way to slice an onion. We’re going to leave the hairy root end on, cut off the other end, then cut it in half right through the root. Then, we peel the onion and finely chop it — nobody likes huge pieces of onion in their guac…

The next thing we need is lime. Roll it around on the counter and press on it a bit to loosen up the juice inside. Then, cut it in half and squeeze the juice from one half into the avocado. Taste it to see if you also want to use the other half. You’re the boss here.

Take out your good old fashioned potato masher, and mash up your guacamole. Do this in your large mixing bowl.

Then, scrape the guac into whatever pretty little serving bowl you like. Taste for seasoning, and feel free to add sea salt as needed.

If you cooked along with me in the video, I think the actual making of the guacamole took about five minutes. And it actually will take less time when you make it without me because I was babbling on a bit.

homemade simple guacamole

Here are the details on the health benefits in this awesome homemade simple guacamole recipe:

Avocados are one of my favorite foods, both for their health benefits and because they taste great. In Chinese medicine, some practitioners recommend avocados to raise the sperm count. I like them because they are good for anemia, dry skin, palpitations, constipation, and hot flashes due to menopause.

In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Cilantro is also known as Chinese Parsley. It is good for the common cold, indigestion, and energy flow in the body. An old Chinese remedy for the common cold and even for measles was to drink cilantro and mint tea. Cilantro is one of those herbs you either love or hate; I’m a lover…

Homemade Simple Guacamole
Print
Recipe type: appetizer, dip
Cuisine: paleo, whole30, gluten-free
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 cup
This is the only guacamole recipe you will ever need. It's simple, healthy, and oh so delicious!
Ingredients
  • flesh of 1 large or 2 small ripe avocados
  • about ¼ cup diced fresh tomatoes
  • 1 to 2 Tbs fresh minced cilantro
  • juice of 1 or 2 limes
  • sea salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Mash with a potato masher or fork.
  3. Season with more salt if needed.
  4. Scoop into a smaller serving bowl.
  5. Enjoy!

 

homemade simple guacamole

Sesame Pork Meatballs

Sesame Pork Meatballs are the perfect appetizer, hors d’oeuvre, main course, or snack… delicious and healing!
sesame pork meatballs

If it’s getting close to dinner time and I still have no idea what to make or what I’m in the mood for, my go-to is oftentimes some kind of meatball. I always keep a variety of organic ground meats in my freezer just for times like this. This recipe for sesame pork meatballs was born on one of these nights.

I go through phases with foods and cooking. Sometimes I will make the same type of ethnic food for weeks at a time, just because that’s what I’m feelin’ at the time. I learned long ago that when I cook what I’m in the mood for and what my body is craving, the food comes out awesome. If I make something that I really have no interest in… ummmm…. it can come out really bad. And yes, I too have some epic kitchen failures.

Asian food is one cuisine that I have a love-hate relationship with. I can go for months without touching it and then… bam… I have to have it. A lot.

Last week, when I was hot and tired and didn’t feel like cooking but I also didn’t feel like going out, I opened my freezer and peeked in. I did what most of us do: I stood there and stared. I moved some things around as if by doing so something new would appear. Needless to say, it didn’t.

I really do keep several packages of ground meat in the freezer. I’ve got ground lamb, bison, beef, pork, and chicken in there right now as I write this post. When I know the flavors I’m in the mood for, ground meat can become my canvas for those flavors. That’s what happened here. These sesame pork meatballs have a slight Asian taste and that’s exactly what I wanted. And the sesame seed coating makes them a little crunchy… yum… just perfect.

I didn’t use any grains in these meatballs. Instead, I used chickpea crumbs. This is an awesome invention — they are sold in bags in lots of markets now and I just love to substitute them for breadcrumbs. (See the recipe below, for  details on the chickpea crumbs I used.)

These are not messy balls. They can be eaten with your fingers. And that is my favorite way to eat everything. The sesame seed coating helps keep the moisture and juices inside the meatballs… kind of like M&Ms. Well, not exactly, but I think you get the picture. Pick one up, dip it in your favorite Asian dipping sauce, and pop it in your mouth. Perfection.

If you’re a meatball fan like I am, you should also try my recipe for Paleo Buffalo Chicken Meatballs With Ranch.

sesame pork meatballs

I love to customize recipes for specific health concerns. Let me customize a meatball recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

sesame pork meatballs

Here are some of the great healing ingredients in this recipe for sesame pork meatballs:

Pork strengthens the digestive system, helps with constipation, and can moisten a dry cough and other dryness in the body. It’s also good to strengthen your qi and give you energy.

Sesame seeds (the black ones) are a Chinese herb (Hei Zhi Ma). Black foods, in Chinese medicine, are knows as longevity foods. This herb is good for so many things, including headaches, constipation, dizziness, and even helping with lactation. White sesame seeds also have many great nutritional benefits. They are also an anti-aging food. If you have backaches, hair thats graying way too fast, ringing in the ears, weak knees, blurry vision or general weakness, go for the sesame seeds; just sprinkle them on everything. Long ago in China, sesame seeds were ground into honey to form a paste and was taken as a medicine to counter old-age and weakness. You can use black sesame seeds, white sesame seeds, or a combination of both for this recipe.

Chickpeas actually help calm the spirit. They relieve anxiety and soothe irritability… it kind of makes you realize why hummus is so popular. I used chickpea crumbs instead of breadcrumbs in these meatballs.

sesame pork meatballs

If you make these Sesame Pork Meatballs, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Sesame Pork Meatballs
Print
Recipe type: meatballs, appetizer, hors d'oeuvre, finger food, main course
Cuisine: Asian, grain-free, dairy-free, gluten-free
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 12-15 balls
These meatballs have a slight Asian taste and they are crispy on the outside and so moist on the inside... delicious and healing!
Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  • ½ tsp tandoori spice (or use your favorite Asian spice)
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp dried minced onion flakes
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ cup chickpea crumbs (or substitute your favorite crumbs)
  • ½ cup raw sesame seeds
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Line a rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.
  3. Combine all ingredients, except sesame seeds, in a large bowl.
  4. Mush it up with your hands until it's combined.
  5. Form the mixture into golf-ball size balls.
  6. Pour the sesame seeds onto a plate.
  7. Roll the balls in the seeds so they are coated on all sides.
  8. Arrange the balls on the tray so that they are not touching each other.
  9. Bake for 10 mins, then flip them over and bake for another 10 mins or until they are cooked through.
  10. Serve alone or with your favorite Asian dipping sauce.
  11. Enjoy!

sesame pork meatballs

Sweet And Spicy Chicken Drumsticks

These sweet and spicy chicken drumsticks are a go-to recipe in my house — ball games, picnics, pig-outs… Read more

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

vegan spinach artichoke dip

Spinach artichoke dip is one of those weird things that almost everybody seems to love. I say weird, because even people who don’t love veggies or think they hate artichokes or spinach, seem to dive into a bowl of spinach artichoke dip whenever it’s around. This vegan spinach artichoke dip is no exception. I had people diving into this dip the second it was plopped down on my coffee table.

My kids used to order this dip (the cheesy original version) every time we went to a restaurant that had it. It always came out steaming hot and creamy and it smelled so good! It’s one of those things that I could never eat because of all the dairy. Well, this vegan version finally gives me my turn!

This dip is warm and creamy. It may be vegan, but it tastes so similar to the cheese-laden original, that nobody will know.

I loved this dip with sliced radishes and cucumbers and peppers, but the not-so-health conscious eaters in my crowd scooped up mounds of this dip with chips and pita.

It’s that time of year when we are post-Thanksgiving but pre-Xmas and Hannukah and New Years. So, we all try to eat as healthy as we can for the next few weeks. Right? I mean if we can do okay now, then we can really let loose that last week of the year. So, if this is your plan, slip this vegan spinach artichoke dip into your apps rotation during football games, basketball games, happy hours, whatever… because it sure helps when you are eating something that tastes sinful, but really isn’t.

Okay, enuf selling of this dip. Haha, you’d think I was getting a commission on it or something… but I’m not… I just want you to be happy from healthy food. Wow, that sounds pretty corny, huh?

Anyway, happy everything!

I want to thank Sina at Vegan Heaven for the original recipe for this dish.

Oh, and if you are looking for another healthy dip to try, take a look at my recipe for Beet Hummus.

This is Steve, with that look on his face saying this bowl is all for him and nobody better come near him… haha.. vegan spinach artichoke dip

vegan spinach artichoke dip

Here are some of the awesome healing ingredients in this delicious vegan spinach artichoke dip:

White beans are good at boosting energy and calming the mind. They can help improve your memory and can lower cholesterol. And, they are a great source of protein.

It is true that spinach contains iron, but it’s this vegetable’s lesser-known qualities that really hold my admiration. Spinach contains a substance that helps eliminate prostate cancer. It’s also great for your bones and also for memory loss. Diabetic patients may find that eating spinach helps combat excessive thirst and can even be good for night blindness. Spinach can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so calcium-rich foods should be avoided when eating this leafy green.

Artichokes are a good source of vitamins C and K and they also contain a healthy amount of magnesium. The are low in fat and calories but they do have some fiber, so they are a healthy choice. In Chinese medicine, we recommend adding artichokes to the diet to combat sadness, headaches, indigestion, and diarrhea. In olden times, steamed artichokes were sometimes prescribed to combat a yeast infection.

Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healty choice.

Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-y taste without using any dairy and it adds amino acids and Vitamin B, iron, zinc, and selenium to your diet. Nutritional yeast is a complete protein and also contains fiber, so it’s a really good thing!

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. In the winter, I eat lots and lots of onions… I guess I should feel sorry for the people close to me! Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better; they actually can rid the body of bacteria. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

vegan spinach artichoke dip

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
Print
Recipe type: appetizer, dip, vegan, vegetarian
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Vegan Heaven
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
This is one of those dips that people just keep eating and eating and nobody knows it's vegan. It's really creamy and delicious... and easy to make! Great for a crowd!
Ingredients
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • 1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 Tbs nutritional yeast
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • sea salt, to taste
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 5 oz fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1 14-oz can artichoke hearts, drained, roughly chopped
Instructions
  1. Place the lemon juice,cashews, beans and nutritional yeast, and water in a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  3. Heat oil in a large pan and add the onion.
  4. Saute until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute.
  6. Add the spinach, and stir until completely wilted, about 1 or 2 minutes.
  7. Stir in the artichokes.
  8. Stir in the cashew mixture.
  9. Season with salt.
  10. Spoon into a bowl and serve warm with crackers, chips, or fresh veggies.
  11. Enjoy!

vegan spinach artichoke dip

10 Clean Eating Recipes

These 10 clean eating recipes are one’s you’ll make again and again!

Shredded Kale

Okay, so Day One is here! If any part of your New Year’s resolution involves clean eating, you’ll love these recipes.

Here are 10 of my favorite easy to make clean eating recipes. And, each one can be made in advance, so you can make enough for the week in one batch and store the rest in the fridge for the week.

Make a few of these each week and I promise you will feel better. Really. All that bloat that you have from the holidays (okay… all that bloat that I have from the holidays…) will start to disappear. I mean it.

Are you with me? Click on the recipe links beneath each picture and let’s get cooking!!!

Here they are:

This is the best soup.  It’s healthy.  It keeps well in the fridge.  And you can change it up each night with different toppings…

 

This chickpea salad can be treated like chicken salad, but it’s vegan. Make sandwiches, salads, or eat it plain…

 

Here’s your new favorite breakfast. Switch it up by experimenting with different fruits and berries…

 

This is a genius recipe. Make one chicken and you can eat all week; top your salads, stuff your wraps…

 

You need a dessert, right? This “nice cream” is made with bananas. It’s vegan and it’s amazing…

 

This is my favorite pasta recipe ever! It’s grain-free and it’s fabulous…

 

This is a copy-cat version of my favorite raw foods restaurant’s vegan Caesar salad…

 

The best vegan chili ever! And, it’s filled with superfoods…

 

A pot of healthy and spicy comfort food is just what the doctor ordered…

 

Here’s a seafood salad that tastes great the next day, is so healthy and clean, and tastes amazing…

10 Clean Eating Recipes