Chili Stuffed Avocado

My relationship with avocados went from utter disgust to true love. They contain fat, mainly monounsaturated fat which is good for your heart, as well as a number of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and plenty of fiber. They taste so delicious raw, seasoned, or stuffed.

Anyways, back to the point at hand. I had some ripened avocados just waiting to be devoured along with some leftover turkey chili, so I figured WHY NOT EAT THEM TOGETHER!? This recipe was totally inspired by my favorite dietitians over at foodheavenmadeeasy.com. One hass avocado is easily >250 calories, so I would recommend eating only one half or one stuffed avocado. Honestly, this is a super basic meal/snack, but it was so delicious I had to share.

I started with two hass avocados and decided to season them with a little salt and pepper, but that is absolutely optional.

Chili is my lazy winter go-to meal and is equally yummy without meat. You can add a variety of beans and veggies to this recipe. I'm no chef, but this is what I do!

Chili Recipe

1 15 oz. can low-sodium red kidney beans

1 15 oz. low-sodium can black beans

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 lb. ground turkey meat

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 - 1 cup chopped onions

1/2 - 1 cup chopped bell peppers

2 tbsp chili powder

2 tbsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Dump the beans and tomatoes in a large pot and place them on low-medium heat. Mix the spices in a small bowl and heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Add onions and bell peppers to pan and allow to simmer for a minute or two. Place turkey meat in pan with onions + bell peppers and cook until brown. Add seasoning mix to the meat + a splash of water and allow the spices to cook into meat. Once there is no more liquid in the pan, dump it into the pot of beans and tomatoes. BOOM, lazy chili. 

I lightly seasoned my avocados with salt and pepper then proceeded to smash them making it easier to scoop. Add chili to the avocados and voila. You can eat them plain or enhance it as you would a regular bowl of chili. 

This meal is both nutrient and calorie dense. For a lighter option I would either cut it down to one or gut most of the avocado out. 

When In Napa...

The morning started out as any typical Sunday morning would, "Where are we going for brunch?" After delving in on yelps search list for some new places to try, we ended up finding a yummy looking waffle spot. 

Just so you aren't confused, this is not the waffle spot. Half a mile until our destination we saw First Street and on First Street lies Gott's Roadside. We have never gone wrong with this locally sourced establishment. Napa is such a tranquil and welcoming city filled with locals and tourists alike. It's such an awe-inspiring city you will not even fill guilty or gluttonous when you stuff your face. 

Super Easy DIY Frozen Yogurt

In the words of the ever so hilarious Tom and Donna, "Treat Yo Self!"

A lot of ice cream on the market contain empty calories so get into this nutrient-dense treat!

fiber, B6, potassium, protein, calcium, and vitamin C are all of the main nutrients you will receive from this recipe. 

1 cup of frozen strawberries

1 1/2 frozen bananas

6 oz. greek yogurt

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blend, blend, blend.

mm hm, go ahead and gawk over it.

cover & freeze.

voila!

enjoy y'all!

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You can absolutely use whatever fruit that your heart desires. 

If you try this out, let me know!

Oh Cae, Let's Eat Some Chili.

I love food and I also love having time to cook. Normally, people eat chilli during the fall and winter months but I love eating it year round. Instead of using turkey meat, I opted for some tofu, which I actually could have done without. Anyways, lets get into it!

I removed my package of [firm tofu] from the water and pressed it on a plate with a dish towel and plate. While I was letting the tofu press, I started working on the veggies. Who knew that slicing vegetables could take up so much time!? Um... yea, still learning to properly slice and dice. 

[I used one tomato, half of a sweet onion, and half a bell pepper.]

aren't they so pretty?!

I drained cans of [garbanzo beans, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, and tomato sauce]. Soluble fiber galore!! For a healthier choice you can actually buy dry beans and soak them yourself so you don't have all the extra additives in the can.