It’s avocado season and no better time to make some delicious avocado recipes.

I love avocados!

California Haas avocados are my favorite the season runs from May-Oct. otherwise, where I live we get avocados from Mexico.

So if you have a choice and California avocados are in season and you find them where you live, GRAB some!

Avocados are available year round across the US. As I’m sure you’ll want to give some of these tasty recipes a try.

On an interesting note- avocados are a great source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin E. A single California Avocado tree can produce up to 200 pounds of avocados. The average tree produces 2-300 pieces of the delicious fruit.

I have recipes from guacamole to cookies, appetizers to smoothies and so many more. I’m sharing over 20 avocado recipes with you and I’m sure you’ll find a new favorite.

Avocadoes are not just for Guacamole– but don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with guacamole… It’s amazing and if you like goat cheese check out this guac.

If you need some tips on cutting avocados check out my video.

If you ever wind up with too many avocados you can how to freeze avocados, more details here.

• Avocado Cheesecake
• Avocado Chipotle Egg Rolls
• Guacamole
• Avocado Deviled Eggs
• Avocado Bean Dip
• Avocado Caprese

• Avocado and Strawberry Margarita
• Avocado Stuffed Turkey Burgers
• Avocado Corn Cakes 
• Toast
• Grilled Avocado and Goat Cheese Sandwich
• Savory Avocado Scones

• Avocado Salad with Fried jalapeños
• Coconut Chicken with Pineapple Guacamole
• Avocado Tropical Smoothie
• Avocado Potato Salad
• Avocado Cream Cheese Wontons
• Avocado Mac and Cheese

An all time favorite… California Roll bowl it’s like a giant sushi, no fuss and a whole meal in a bowl!

• Avocado Lime Cookies
• Avocado Mexican Wedding Cookies

Are you an everything bagel seasoning fan… Avocado Toast never tasted better!

The post Avocado Recipes first appeared on Created by Diane.

The most simple guacamole recipe around! 

I love super simple guacamole, it really shouldn’t be complicated!

All you need is 4 simple ingredients to make some of the most tongue tantalizing guac you’ll ever put in your mouth. (but don’t worry I’ll give you lots more ideas as well)

No need to overcomplicate it… really!

My favorite has lime, cilantro, avocados, and salt, that’s it. I prefer it simple, but I’ve gathered a lot of favorites below to help you make it your own:

One of the great things about this dish is its versatility, you can dress it up in so many different ways.

Some people like to add onion – and it can be any variety of onion too. Try it with a sweeter red onion, or a spicier white onion. Mild green onions also add a lovely flavor. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention garlic. Garlic goes so well in so many different dishes, especially guacamole.

For a little color, you can add tomato or even red pepper. Or dress it up with spices such as jalapeno, chili peppers, or red pepper for some extra fire.

And lastly, my favorite earthy spice, cumin. This simple spice related to cilantro adds a depth to guacamole and richness that’ll keep your chip dippin’ again and again! 

But if you really want to kick it up a notch, I have a recipe for my kicked up version of guac – Goat Cheese and Bacon Guacamole. It’s amazingly applied in so many different ways.

How to make guacamole with one avocado?

My recipe and tips are great for 1 avocado or a dozen of them, just add in the ingredients and give it a taste so you can adjust the flavor to your liking.

As you can see, the great thing about a basic guacamole recipe is the option to make it your own. And I’ve dedicated this blog to show you how to make guac that will lay the best foundation for whatever you wish to add – or eat it just as it is. Either way, your taste buds are sure to thank you. 

And sure we all know you can serve guacamole with tortilla chips, but what else is it good with? Well, I’m a bit of an avocado fanatic, so I’ll add it to sandwiches such as my Chicken BLT.

I also really love it on toast by itself or topped with a fried egg and some bacon – it’s out of this word delightful! And of course, it’s fantastic with burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. 

Sometimes, though, I just want to use avocado in other ways, and that’s why I created a blog just for the almighty avocado!

More Avocado recipes of mine are here. This link will take you to them, and show just how many ways this humble fruit can be used.

Avocado adds a natural creaminess to any dish it accompanies. It can be a supporting actor, or the star itself.

Here are a couple of sample recipes from it:

• Avocado Bean Dip
• Breakfast Toast

And now, let’s get started with my simple guacamole recipe!

To begin, this recipe calls for 1 avocado. But you may need more guacamole…

So, the rule of thumb is ½ avocado per person:

 I often use 1 avocado per person. If I’m using the guacamole as a dip, I tend to like a lot scooped on my chips, but if you’re serving a crowd, 1/2 per person will do.

To begin, cut the avocados in half, remove the seed, and then cut the avocado from the peel and scoop it with a spoon. Chop your cilantro, grab the best tasting salt you have, and you’re on your way to a great snack. I prefer coarse kosher salt, I love the flavor, and it’s far different than table salt, so experiment and see which type of salt you like best.

Using a fork, smash your avocado pieces until they are the texture you like. Mix it more if you want it smooth, or use a mini handheld masher. when mashing many avocados. 

Add in your lime juice and salt, stir to combine. The acid from the lime will help keep your avocado bright green while it’s waiting to be served. (If you make it ahead of time and need to be sure it stays green, place plastic wrap directly on top of the avocado so no air gets to it and it doesn’t turn brown).

Lastly, add in your chopped cilantro and combine.

At this point…

You could add in whatever else you wanted to – garlic, tomatoes, peppers (jalapenos are fun) – it’s your guac!

Next, chill it until ready to serve. Placing plastic wrap directly on top of the guac inside the container will also help prevent browning.

If your avocado will be sitting out longer than half an hour before people dig in, you can add a little more lime juice to help it retain its color – but go easy! It can get too citrusy if you’re not careful. You can also place a bowl of ice water under the guac to keep it chilled.

How do I store leftover guacamole so it keeps well?

You can add a little more lime juice, and place plastic laying directly onto the guacamole so there is no air in the container, which will turn it brown.

 Do you have a salsa recipe?

I do! I love the pairing, here are two of my go-to recipes!

• Restaurant Style Salsa
• Salsa Verde

And don’t miss seeing my Mexican Rice Recipe

What is the easiest way to mix guacamole?

Dice the avocado inside the skin, then scoop it out with a spoon. Mash it with the back of a fork, or I use a great masher like this one, or a potato masher. If you’re looking for it to be whipped smooth to spread on sandwiches, using an immersion blender is your best option.

Now don’t be afraid to have more fun with your guacamole:

• Want it creamier, add sour cream
• Want it spicy, add diced jalapenos
• Want it thinner? Puree it, and add a tablespoon of water
• Want it with tomato, add some diced tomato
• Want it cheesy? Add some cotija cheese, goat cheese, or feta cheese
• Add bacon for a delicious smoky flavor. This is my favorite guac with bacon
• Add in some pineapple for a fruity guac
• If you want to change up the flavor, add in some cumin, start with 1/4 teaspoon,
• Want more veggies? Add in some fresh spinach, baby kale, or arugula to kick up the veggies in this recipe
• Hot sauce adds a fun kick

If you want to know how to cut an avocado, check this out.

If you have kids that like to help in the kitchen, this avocado slicer tool is great. It’s not too sharp and allows you to cut, remove the pit, and slice the avocado, then you just need a spoon to scoop it out.

If you love avocado and guac, be sure to check out these fun items I found:

• Dish
• Shirt
• Bag
• Notebook

And be sure to give my avocado corn cakes a try, they are delicious!

SERVE guacamole with tortilla chips, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, slather it on toast, top it with some crispy bacon and a fried egg, so delicious.

How many avocados do I need?

The rule of thumb is 1/2 an avocado per person. Use 1 avocado per person if you’re only eating guac and chips as it’ll go quickly. 

How do I store leftover guacamole so it keeps well?

Add more lime juice, and place plastic laying directly onto the guacamole so there is no air in the container which will turn it brown.

What is the easiest way to mix guacamole?

Dice the avocado inside the skin, then scoop it out with a spoon, mash it with the back of a fork or use a potato masher. If you’re looking for it to be whipped smooth to spread on sandwiches use an immersion blender.

Check out my other Avocado Recipes

If you pick up some extra avocados, be sure to make some avocado toast… it’s easy and delicious! Add a fried egg for extra yumminess.

When is an avocado ripe? 

The avocado will feel heavy, but not hard, it should be firm, but when placed in the palm of your hand, it’ll “give” when squeezed gently. When you remove the stem, the color underneath should be a pretty green. Don’t let avocados get too ripe, they turn brown on the inside and have a mushy texture. Ripe avocados can last in the fridge for a week or two easily, so once they have ripened, put them in the fridge.

Print

Guacamole

Just about the best dip ever is this easy and simple guacamole.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup

Author Diane Schmidt – createdbydiane.com

Ingredients

• 1 ripe Avocado
• 3 sprigs fresh cilantro diced
• 1/4-1/2 fresh lime juiced
• pinch coarse kosher salt for best flavor, table salt tastes totally different, give kosher salt a try
• *options
• onion
• garlic
• jalapenos
• tomatoes

Instructions

• Peel and dice avocado, then add in lime juice and salt, then stir in chopped cilantro.
• Add in any other additions you prefer.
• Guacamole needs the acid of the lime to hold its color, the other thing that helps keep it bright green is to not expose it to air until served, so place plastic wrap directly on top of it in a container, then place a lid on top of the container.
• If you know the guacamole is going to sit out longer than 1/2 hour add a little more lime juice so it doesn’t brown.
• *multiply for more servings

The post How to make guacamole first appeared on Created by Diane.

I am a huge Mexican food fan, and living just an hour from the Mexican border in Southern California has me passing by lots of Mexican restaurants and it also means I like GREAT Mexican food and crave it often.

From tacos to chips and salsa… and far too many more to mention

In compiling this list,

I’m happy to share my over 50 Mexican-inspired recipes…

from appetizers to soups, and main dishes to desserts.

With ingredients from avocado, to cilantro, tortillas, and jalapeños I’ve got you covered!

Be sure to check my top favorites from this list… soup, salad, margarita, and cupcake!

But there are so many it was hard to pick just a few, so keep looking there are so many more!

Start making some easy and delicious Mexican recipes and skip the take-out! You and your family will be ecstatic with the results!

Continue reading: Mexican Recipes

The post Mexican Recipes first appeared on Created by Diane.

There is nothing better than being able to make something delicious to eat without really having to prepare for it!

I make these mostly when I have no plan, no food in the fridge (chicken or beef cooked) and want a taco fast!

My pantry is always full of food…

beans, pasta, rice, tomatoes, pineapple, and other staples.

I have reduced the amount of food in the pantry over the years so that it doesn’t look like I’m a “prepper” and I’m always checking to be sure we use it all before it expires, but really having things on hand makes it easy to whip up something new in no time if you have some staples in the pantry!

I have been told that I have enough food in my pantry to feed the whole block, knowing I don’t quite need that much food, I’ve tried to pare it down over the years and not have just enough, not to lose anything or not knowing or remembering what I have is always helpful.

I always have tortillas on hand in the fridge, my kids love quesadillas and burritos and I make so many of them, that it would be rare for me not to have any tortillas at all!

Also, my crisper is typically stocked with cabbage, green onions and since I love avocados and eat them most days for breakfast…

yes, I always have them on hand too. But feel free to top them with your favoritets!

Continue reading: Chili Lime Chick Pea Tacos

The post Chili Lime Chick Pea Tacos first appeared on Created by Diane.

• Beet Dyed Deviled Eggs-these are not only pretty they are delicious
• Crispy Baked French Fries- I could eat these every day!
• Carne Asada Fries- this is a winner through and through
• Avocado Caprese-super simple and enjoyed by all.
• Stuffed Jalapeno Bread with Bacon-one of my all time favorites.
• Avocado Chipotle Egg Rolls-these are so delicious.
• Deviled Egg Dip-for the egg lover.
• Balsamic Cheese Dip- balsamic and cheese a winning combo!

Sometimes I make them for dinner during the week, I’m funny that way.

Appetizers and snacks are something that are hard to pass by without partaking in.

I find them irresistible, it doesn’t matter if it’s a finger food, dip, or if I need a plate and fork to eat it.

There are so many flavor options here, I don’t prefer to go out to eat as often as I used to. I am often so disappointed in the food, I end up saying I could have made something better.

Now you can too! Serve up some of these and here RAVE Reviews!

Continue reading: Appetizer Recipes

The post Appetizer Recipes first appeared on Created by Diane.

Toast is just not TOAST anymore, there are so many options for a quick breakfast and in about 2 minutes you could be enjoying something delicious with items you have in your fridge or pantry.

I made a dozen varieties of toast with ingredients I had in my fridge or pantry to show you how EASY it is to mix it up for breakfast time.

Each of these can be made in under 2 minutes, now that is “fast food”

These ideas will have you snacking on toast for more than just breakfast!

There are many who don’t like “breakfast” and say they have no time for it. This is a great option, it’s quick and delicious and most likely  you have items in your fridge or pantry you like or will find a pickier eater will gobble up for breakfast that they may not have thought of.

The possibilities are endless, grab some bread and tasty toppings, and start enjoying breakfast a whole new way!

Continue reading: Toast- it’s not just for breakfast!

The post Toast- it’s not just for breakfast! first appeared on Created by Diane.

This deconstructed version of a California Roll is so fun, easy to make and they get devoured quickly!

This bowl is full of all the delicious flavors of a California Roll, and I made some super fantastic sauce to go on top. The crab used in this recipe is the “imitation crab” use see used in sushi rolls, it’s also popularly known as “seafood”. It’s made from white fish. It’s easy to work with, inexpensive and it’s great to make quick meals with. 

Take a look at this one…

This deconstructed California Roll is so easy and delicious. It’s the easy way to make sushi bowls at home!

Now, no matter how many times my kids ask me to get them California Rolls, I can just whip these up quickly to give them what they want…

and easy homemade version.

No actual rolling involved.

Continue reading: California Roll Bowl

The post California Roll Bowl first appeared on Created by Diane.

Avocado & Chipotle Egg Rolls with Chipotle Dip
Pin this onto your Appetizer Board on Pinterest
Follow created by Diane on Pinterest to see some delicious recipes!

Avocados are creamy and delicious and chipotles are smokey and earthy tasting.

Oh, it’s a wonderful combo!

I’ll admit I don’t use chipotle peppers often and when I do, I wonder why I don’t use them more. The flavor is always so familiar when I order food out and I thought it was about time I made an appetizer my friends and I could enjoy without having to leave the house….that had that great smokey flavor added to it.

I am a huge fan of delicious and filling appetizers. I love when the flavors are unforgettable and you can’t wait to have that item again. This is that kind of appetizer! Irresistible.

I’ve made egg rolls and wontons before if you need more appetizer ideas Avocado Cream Cheese Wontons, Corned Beef and Cabbage Egg Rolls, Texas Egg Rolls, Fried Spinach Ravioli with a Feta and Basil Dip, Balsamic Cheese Dip with Tortellini…. oh my goodness this appetizers list is making my mouth water!

You’ll notice I’m BIG on sauces…..check out all my SAUCES HERE

Continue reading: Avocado and Chipotle Egg Rolls

The post Avocado and Chipotle Egg Rolls first appeared on Created by Diane.

Cookies rolled in powdered sugar,

is there anything better?

The only thing better about these cookies that these cookies are healthier than your ordinary recipe,

I swapped out some of the butter, for avocado…

the result….YUMMY!

Continue reading: Avocado Mexican Wedding Cookies

The post Avocado Mexican Wedding Cookies first appeared on Created by Diane.

October is here and Halloween is out and about in all the stores,

there will be parties and get togethers left and right.

This is one fun and delicious dip,

that will be great with veggies and chips.

All the great taste of a classic buttermilk ranch, with the creamy deliciousness of avocado.

The gorgeous green avocado makes for the perfect backdrop to create this fun spider web in…

and how fun is that spider.

Truth be told, this is the only spider I like!

Continue reading: Avocado Buttermilk Ranch Dip

The post Avocado Buttermilk Ranch Dip first appeared on Created by Diane.