October 16, 2009

Alligator Pears

George Bliss, age 81, has been eating avocados morning, noon, and night. A second-generation California avocado farmer, Bliss loves the fruits of his labor. "I eat three avocados a day," he says with the fervor of a true addict. "I have one on my eggs in the morning, one in my salad at noon, and one with my dinner."

Partaking of his land's bounty doesn't seem to have done Bliss any harm. After eight decades of daily avocado consumption, he's still going strong; at 6 feet tall, he weighs a trim 180 pounds. He believes that he has avocados to thank for his good health. "I'm still living and I'm over 80," he says. "I do some exercise on a bicycle, and I walk through the orchards keeping up with my business. I don't need a cane or anything." And sure, Bliss says, his green globes might be a bit fatty, but that's no reason to fear them.

It's true that avocados are high in fat -- but most of the fat in an avocado is monounsaturated -- the "good" kind that actually lowers cholesterol levels. 45 volunteers who ate avocados every day for a week experienced an average 17% drop in total blood cholesterol. Their cholesterol ratio also changed in a healthy way: Their levels of LDL ("bad fat") and triglycerides, both associated with heart disease, went down. Their HDL ("good fat") levels, which tend to lower the risk of heart disease, climbed.

Avocados are so inexpensive right now! I bought mine yesterday for only 50 cents each! Soon they could be up to $3...so buy them now, mash them up with 1 tsp. of lemon juice per two avocados and freeze them in small plastic containers. You can't freeze them whole or in slices but you will have avocado "butter" ready to use all winter!

And, Ladies, forget those fattening and unhealthy chips with your guacamole...I go to my local Asian Market...H Mart, where they make these rice puffs fresh all day!

This is their Rice Puff Machine

You can pair them with almost anything. They're infinitely lighter than the diet-fad rice cakes. These crunch in your mouth, but then almost melt there.

Light as a feather, they are the size of tortillas and sell for only $2 a dozen!


17 comments:

  1. You have the best little shops up there! I have a Mary E. tea pot very similar to what shows in your picture! The pot rack and a tea pot! We have brilliant minds!
    **happy smiles** Deb

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  2. I would love those rice puffs! How neat! I had some avocado with my chicken salad for lunch today! Yummy!

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  3. Carrie~

    Thanks for the info! I love avocados and could eat them 3 times a day too!! I have heard them called one of the 'super foods' for all the reasons you gave. I have to remember the tip for freezing, that would be a nice treat in the winter in a taco salad or a dollop in tortilla soup. And I will look for the little rice cakes, they look good!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  4. I love avocados!!
    The "chips" look and sound delish :)
    do you know if they are marketed anywhere in the great northtwest?

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  5. no wonder you look fabulous..I love avocados..love guamole.:)

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  6. Hey Carrie,
    You have us wanting those rice chips...yummy.
    Thanks for the tip for a healthy living...I'm getting at "that" age and need all the help I can get.
    Happy Weekend!
    Deb :)

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  7. Well similar to Bliss being a native California Girl there are Avocados growing everywhere, even in our sisters backyard. Right now they are on sale for 47 cents, such a deal. Hugs & Kisses Diane

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  8. They are also recommended to improve your skin. Avocado on toast..yum, cheers Katherine

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  9. I wish I like avocados but I don't...silly me by the sounds of it! Now those rice crackers look amazing.I love your blog...it is always filled with so many lovely images and fun facts! xoxxo

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  10. Growing up in California we ate avacados all the time and I love them. My mom would smash them on buttered toast with salt and pepper and it's delicious. So many good ways to enjoy them and BTW your dumpling delights look scrumptious!

    Smiles, Nancy

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  11. Seems silly to say but I don't think I've ever eaten an avocado. Must remedy this situation. :-)

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  12. Oh - I love avocado!! Sounds delicious with the crisps :)

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  13. I have never heard of those rice things-and we eat very multi-cultural-
    Avacados?
    I adore them. I love them.
    I *heart* avacados-and I just started eating them about five years ago-before, I thought I didn't like them! Crazy me!
    (Yea! I'm gonna live forever!)

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  14. I do believe I could eat avocados three times a day too. This is a great post, leaving me with two facinating new facts. Thank you!

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  15. Love avocado's also, wish I lived where they grew and I could just go pick one when I wanted. Rice things are something to look for...

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  16. Who new. I too wish we lived where avacado's grew. Sounds yummy.

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  17. I love the story and I love avocados! Does the "avocado butter" darken when frozen or while it's defrosting?

    I had not heard of any kind of rice cakes except what Quaker makes as the diet ones- these sound wonderful!
    Thanks for the tip :-)

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