Fresh Guacamole

Everything I learned about guacamole roots back to Trader Joe's & table side restaurant guac prep.  Trader Joe's sells a great little kit with everything you need to make your very own fresh guacamole at home.  After you've used that kit enough you don't even need a recipe & you're able to fly on your own at other grocery stores to buy the ingredients for fresh guacamole all by yourself.

The one & only ingredient that can really make or break your guac is (clearly) the avocados.  Avocados need to be firm yet impressionable (so when you press your thumb into the side of it it should have a little give -not be rock hard or super mushy but just right).  So if your avocados are too hard no amount of mashing is going to make a great guacamole, post pone it or go on a hunt for some more avocados & in the mean time leave your avocados to ripen in a brown paper bag. If they're the other end of the spectrum & are super mushy use them fast before they brown.

Ingredients:

• 1 large (or 2 small) avocado(s)
• 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
• 1 shallot (chopped)
• 1 jalapeno pepper (ribs & seeds removed, chopped finely)
• 1 lime (zest & juice)
• 2 tomatoes (or 1 large) (seeded & chopped)
• salt & pepper
• red pepper flakes (optional)

Make it!

1. Cut the avocado(s) in half & scoop out the yummy goodness, discard the seed & shell/skin.
2. Mash avocado, garlic, shallot, jalepeno, lime zest & juice together (use whatever works for you, I used a fork, but a spoon for muddler will work too).
3. Stir in the tomatoes.
4. Season with salt, pepper & red pepper flakes.
5. Eat this with everything & on anything. Store in an airtight container (if there is any left).

Crab Salad & Mango Sandwich

Summer maybe coming to a close & Labor Day looming,  I'm still craving summer seafood like this crab salad & mango sandwich.  I made these for dinner the other night when I came home late from work.  Luckily, they're super easy to mix together (ahem, no cooking ok a little if you count toasting bread) & even easier to eat so they're perfect for dinner in a pinch.

Happy Labor Day to you all & especially to those who made it possible. Ciao ciao summer.

What are you making for your Labor Day barbecue or picnic, maybe a crab salad & mango sandwich?  Just in case I jotted down the recipe for you below.

Crab Salad & Mango Sandwich Ingredients

• 2 cups crab meat (I used the stuff from a can!)
• 1 tablespoon mayo
• 1 shallot (finely chopped)
• 1 lemon (zest & juice)
• 2-4 whole wheat rolls (depending no the size & portion control you're after)
• salt & pepper
• 2 cups baby field greens
• 1/2 mango sliced (do yourself a favor & get the pre-sliced container at your deli it can cost more than a whole one but if you haven't mastered cutting a mango yet (like me) you'll save more money this way!)

Make it!

1. Combine crab, mayo, shallot, lemon zest & juice of half a lemon.  Season with salt & pepper.
2. Cut rolls in half & toast under the broiler (or skip this step all together).
3. In a separate bowl toss the baby field greens with the rest of the lemon juice & season with salt & pepper.
4. To create each sandwich cover the bottom half of the roll with slices of mango, top with a heap of crab salad.  Then pile the greens high & cover with the top of the roll, squish it down & cut it in half. Serve & enjoy.