The Avocado (also referred to as an Alligator Pear due to it's
rough skin), first started running around wild in South-Central
Mexico sometime between 7,000 and 5,000 B.C. These little
rascals were later captured and domesticated around 500 B.C.

Over the years, many different cultures and eras tried their
luck at taming these little guys, which resulted in almost 1000
different shapes, flavors and varieties. The most popular
variety, the Haas avocado, was first born in 1926 in California.

The seedling tree was a fortunate accident, which was nearly
destroyed when Mr. Haas wasn't able to cross-breed different
varieties of avocado with the original (Apparently the Haas
avocado was stubborn right from the get-go). Thankfully his
children knew better and, after what I'm sure was a lot of
begging and whining, the Haas avocado lives on today,
accounting for about 80% of worldwide avocado consumption.

It's a tragedy that happens all too often. A perfectly ripe
avocado is purchased at a local grocery store. It is toted along
to someone's home, and is placed in their fridge along with the
other fruits and veggies. A day goes by, and other things are
being taken out and enjoyed... another day goes by, and
another. Finally, the little avocado is chosen. It's taken out and
happily thinks that it will get to add color, flavor, and
nutrition to someone's life. But alas, by this time it is no
longer able to do any of those things. All is not lost though.

This avocado still has a chance to add a little happiness to
someone's life (see 'A Stress-Relieving Avocado Activity' for
more on that).

There are two questions that need to be answered before
choosing the perfect avocado:

1. Why do I want an avocado?

2. When will I have time for my new avocado?

Let's start with question 1 (always a good place, I find). As I
mentioned, there are almost 1000 varieties of avocado. Now
it's true that your local supermarket will most likely not carry
all of these, but in case you're faced with more than the
garden variety Haas avocado, here's what to do:

There are only 7 varieties that are commercially grown in
California (the state which grows, by far, the most avocados in
North America). This means that you will probably come
across only these varieties in your shopping adventures.

Depending on what you'll be using your avocado for, and your
own personal tastes, here is a brief bio on each local avocado:

Bacon Avocado: This oval-shaped, medium-sized avocado has
a medium to large seed and is easy to peel. It has a light taste,
and smooth thin green skin, which darkens slightly when ripe.

Fuerte Avocado: This "established favorite" is also pear-
shaped and peels easiliy. It has a great taste, and is medium to
large when fully grown.

Gwen Avocado: This "Haas-like" fruit is plump, with a small to
medium seed (less seed = more fruit.). Don't be deceived by
its bumpy, thick skin. It is easy to peel, and has a great taste.

Haas Avocado: This oval-shaped avocado has a small to
medium seed and is easy to peel. It is also the most user-
friendly avocado and is what I consider to be the "indicator
toothbrush" of avocados. When the skin turns from green to
black, it means that this little guy is ripe and ready to be
eaten.

Pinkerton Avocado: This long pear-shaped fruit is easy to peel,
tastes great, has a small seed and is a large fruit when fully
grown (so make sure you're hungry.)

Reed Avocado: This avacado is round with a medium seed. It
has a slightly pebbly skin, but a rich buttery texture on the
inside.

Zutano Avocado: This pear-shaped fruit is a little less easy to
peel, but has a light taste, and would be a great addition to any
meal.

On to Question 2. Unfortunately, nothing's 100% perfect, and
the avocado is no exception. Avocados, while tasty and
nutritious, have a short lifespan once they're ripe (They can go
from perfectly ripe to over-ripe and useless in only a day.).

When you're choosing an avocado, think about when you will
be using it. If you plan on using it immediately, select one that
is firm but yields to gentle pressure.

If you're planning to use it later in the week, select one that is
firm and under-ripe, and allow it to ripen on your counter, or
in a brown paper bag (to accelerate the ripening process, add
an apple or banana to the paper bag).

If you can't use the entire avacado at one time, you can keep
the fresh green color by sprinkling it with lemon or lime juice
and sealing it in an airtight container.

Avocados are cholesterol-free, sodium-free, low in saturated
fats, contain 14 minerals which regenerate and stimulate
growth, are an excellent source of iron and copper (which
build red blood cells), contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, iron,
phosphorous, magnesium and potassium, and (one second,
have to catch my breath) are high in vitamin E (which slows
aging). Along with being full of vitamins and nutrients, the
avocado is a very easy-going fruit, and is compatible with most
diets and lifestyles.

- The avocado is low in sugar and is starch-free, making it
ideal for diabetics or those with other sugar-sensitive
disorders. For more information, see
www.avocado.org/health-nutrition

- The avocado is also a refreshing choice for those of you
watching your carbohydrate intake. One whole medium
avocado has only 6 net carbs. For Atkins friendly recipes check
out:

http://atkins.com/food/index.html

- Avocados, much like bananas, are a great source of slow
burning energy, making them a great snack for athletes and
those on-the-go. It's hard to believe that so much nutrition
and great taste comes in such a small package.

Avocados are full of Vitamin E, which provides moisturizing
assets through both consumption and topical use. Vitamin E
may also reduce UV-induced damage and protect against
ozone damage and can even reduce redness after sun
exposure.

Many different shampoos, lotions and other beauty products
now contain vitamin E, and many use avocados. For ideas on
how to create your own at-home spavocado, visit
www.avocado.org/health-beauty
and click on 'the Avocado Touch'.

Outrageously Good Avocado Dip

1 package Instant Tortilla Soup Mix
1 large ripe avocado, mashed
1 tsp lime juice
1/2 cup sour cream

1. Blend ingredients together, and serve with your favorite
chips or fresh veggies.

Recipe Variations:

-For those who like a milder taste, use 1 cup of sour cream,
and 1 tbsp of lemon juice instead

3 packages Instant Tortilla Soup Mix
1 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 egg, beaten

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl and shape into hamburger
patties. Grill and serve!

(Dress 'm up with sliced Avocado of course!)

Guacamole Recipe
2 cup Yield

There is an indefinite number of variations to this classic dip.
This recipe is more of a guideline, so feel free to add or leave
out ingredients and play with the amounts to make it your own
unique recipe.

2 cups avocados - peeled, pitted and sliced
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 tablespoon garlic powder (for a more intense garlic taste,
use 2 minced garlic cloves instead)
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (for those spice-a-phobics out
there (like me), you may want to leave this one out)
Lemon juice (optional)
Salt (optional

1. Place sliced avocados into a food processor (for lumpier
guacamole, use blender or mix by hand), and set to medium.
2. Slowly add salsa until the texture is lumpy. Add the other
ingredients and continue to process until smooth. Salt to taste.

Recipe Varations
- Add fresh chilis instead of hot sauce
- Add chopped onions or scallions
- For a lighter option, replace salsa with low-fat cottage
cheese, and omit salsa

Cheesy BBQ Quesadillas
Serve 2

Once again, the ingredients and quantities of this recipe can be
modified to suit your own taste, so have fun with it.

2 large flour tortillas
1-2 cups chopped tomatoes
1-2 cups chopped avocado
1-2 cups cooked skinless chicken breast, cubed
Shredded cheddar cheese (amount to taste)

Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over one large tortilla. Top
with cubed chicken and chopped tomatoes and avocados, and
cover with another Tortilla. Grill on a pre-heated BBQ over
medium heat for 5-10 minutes, or until cheddar cheese is
melted. Cut in wedges and serve with salsa, sour cream or
guacamole.

Recipe Variations
- Add additional vegetables of your choice, such as onions,
peppers or even corn.
- For a vegetarian alternative, replace chicken with tofu,
seitan, or black beans

Chicken Pasta Salad
Serve 4

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup steak sauce
1 12-ounce package fusilli pasta
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 Vidalia onion (or another sweet onion), diced
2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and diced
1 cup halved cherry, or grape, tomatoes
1/2 cup Ranch-style salad dressing (to taste)

1. Preheat grill (outdoor or George Forman-style indoor grill) for
high heat. Marinate chicken in steak sauce for 15-60 minutes
(according to taste). Grill chicken until no longer pink and
juices run clear. Remove from grill, and chop into bite-size
pieces.
2. Add bouillon cubes and pasta to a large pot of boiling water.
Cook pasta until al dente. Drain, and rinse under cold water.
3. In a large bowl, combine chicken, pasta, onion, avocados and
tomatoes. Mix in salad dressing until desired creaminess,
cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Recipe Variations
- For an added 'crunch', add chopped cucumber or celery.
- For a vegetarian option, replace chicken bouillon with
vegetable or onion bouillon, and replace the chicken with tofu
or soy 'chicken'.
- For a spicier option, use peppercorn ranch dressing instead.
- For a flavorful kick, mix fajita seasoning in when adding the
ranch dressing.

Avocado Grapefruit Salad
Serve 4

1 bag fresh spinach
26 ounces grapefruit sections, drained
2 ripe avocados, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Prepared poppy seed dressing

1. Combine spinach, grapefruit, avocados and onions in a large
bowl. Toss with dressing.

Recipe Variations
- If you aren't a big fan of spinach, replace it with your
favorite lettuce

Avocado Pie

Avocados for dessert? Well, it is a fruit, and this easy-to-make,
creamy-textured delicious variation of the lime pie will make
you change your mind.

1 9-inch prepared graham cracker crust
2 avocados - peeled, pitted and pureed
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 5-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
Whipped cream

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine avocado, lemon juice, and
condensed milk. Blend well and pour into graham cracker
crust.
2. Cover and chill overnight. Garnish with whipped cream.

Recipe Variations
- To make a key-lime avocado pie, replace half the lemon juice
with key lime juice.

http://ucavo.ucr.edu

Don't believe there are almost 1000 varieties of avocados?
Visit this site to see all of them and to learn more than you ever
wanted to know about avocados.

www.avofest.com

Worried you might have missed California's annual Avocado
Festival? Well, your worries are over. Visit this site to find
information on the festival, fun recipes, avocado posters and
more.

www.avocado.org

It's the official page for California Avocados. It's where I got a
lot of my information, but there's so much more fun to be
had. Check it out.

1.Wash an avocado seed. Suspend it (broad end down) over
a water-filled glass using three toothpicks. The water
should cover about an inch of the seed.

2.Place the glass in a warm location, out of direct sunlight.
A mature seed will crack as roots and stem sprout in
about two to six weeks.

3.When a stem grows to six or seven inches, cut it back to
about three inches.

4.When the roots are thick and the stem has leafed out
again, plant it in a rich humus soil, leaving the seed half
exposed. Use a terra cotta pot with a 10-1/2" diameter.

5.Water your avocado house plant generously, but let it dry
out somewhat between waterings.

For tips on keeping your new avocado plant happy and
healthy, see "Proper Care and Feeding" tips at
www.avocado.org

And remember, gardening (in any form) is a great way to
relieve stress, so let the avocado help you, body and soul.
Enjoy.

"This is great soup for the money. I love it and so does my
husband. You can be assured when we start to run low I will be
ordering again. I can't believe a packaged soup can taste this
good and believe me, I'm very picky when it comes to soups. I
was very pleased. Thank you."
Fannie Boolman, IL

"Tasted great ... even my picky daughter loved it! I also tried
the individual servings of tomato soup which I loved - the
convenience was great!"
Jacquie Slater, ON

"This soup is awesome... I would recommend this to everyone.
There is no soup in the grocery store that can compare to this.
The best I've tasted...better than my mom's homemade
chicken noodle. Thank you for such a generous sample and I'll
definitely be buying all my soups from your company. 5 star rating"
Lisa Marko, ON

Garlicky Chicken Pasta

I made the creamy garlic sauce, and it was wonderful! I
sauteed some chicken breast pieces in butter and fresh
oregano and garlic to add over the pasta and it was just yummy.
Hard to believe that it was from a powder. And the leftovers were
great, too. Thanks!
Laura Bayless, VA

Potato Soup Recipe

We just finished the sampler pack, and I especially enjoyed
the chicken noodle and the potato soup. I threw some leftover
cooked mushrooms and asparagus into the potato soup and
then served with bacon crumbles on top---FANTASTIC. I will
definitely purchase more of your products.
Martha Sassin TX

Beef Stroganoff Variation

Used the Cream of 3 Mushroom soup as a base for beef stroganoff and
it was great!
Jan Whitcomb, FL

Homemade Mac & Cheese

This week, I needed a base for macaroni and cheese! I used
one of your Cheese Soups, which I made double strength
(1/2 the required water), and just added a cup of grated sharp
cheddar. I used 450 grams of macaroni, which I obviously
cooked first! This made a very delicious macaroni and
cheese, that disappeared, almost by magic! (Consumed with gusto)
Hal Watt, ON

"yumma. yumma. yum. yum. yum."
Jennifer Jackson, PA

"I am never dissappointed in your products"
Mary Peterson, MN

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to
be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Stop when you have had enough.

Be Loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.