Green Applecado Smoothie

INGREDIENTS
1 banana
1 cup water
1.5 cups kale
1/2 avocado
1 apple

DIRECTIONS
Put all ingredients into Vitamix. Set to smoothie setting on Vitamix and let program run to completion.
Good the next day. If you want to drink immediately replace water or some of fruit for frozen.

NOTES
Serves 1 (approximately 20 ounces)
It was very thick. Try more water.
Future Avocado recipes to try: http://www.healthysmoothiehq.com/avocado-smoothie-recipes

Ingredients
1 cup fresh baby lima beans (from about 1 1/2 pounds in the pod) or other shelling bean (such as edamame)
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
Sea salt
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (raw, from 2 ears)
2 nectarines, cut into thin wedges
1 Hass avocado, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large orange bell pepper, finely julienned
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro

Directions
1.  In a small saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the lima beans until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the beans and rinse under cold water.

2.  In a large bowl, whisk the lime zest and juice with the olive oil, scallion, jalapeño and shallot; season the dressing with salt. Gently fold in the lima beans, corn, nectarines, avocado, orange pepper and tomatoes. Refrigerate the “ceviche” for at least 2 hours. Fold in the cilantro just before serving and serve the “ceviche” chilled.


MAKE AHEAD The salad can be refrigerated for up to 8 hours and eaten over the course of a week! 

Sriracha Chicken Pozole

Picture from original recipe posting. Find it here.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large beefsteak tomatoes (cored if desired)
• 4 large dried guajillo peppers
• 10 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 white onion cut into 1/2 inch rounds
• 5 whole cloves, 3 Tbs. sriracha sauce
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 3 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 3 Tbs. distilled white vinegar
• 2 tsp granulated sugar
• 3 good pinches kosher salt
• 2 large fresh poblano peppers
• 2 pounds chicken (skinless boneless thighs and breasts)
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 2 tsp dried Mexican oregano
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 sprig fresh mint
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans white hominy, drained and rinsed
• 1 avocado finely diced
• 6 radishes finely sliced
• 1 lime

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT OPTIONS

• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (1/2 teaspoon dry)
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
• Shredded lettuce or cabbage
• Diced tomatillos
• Diced green or red bell peppers

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 500. Score an X in the bottom of each tomato and place them on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Roast tomatoes for 25 minutes, until softened and slightly charred all over.
• Cut the stems off the guajillo chiles and slice them lengthwise. Shake out the seeds. Lightly toast them in a small cast iron until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of cold water and let sit for 30 minutes, or until soft and pliable.
• Back the skillet, toast the onions and garlic until you see good charred marks on all sides, and the onions have softened, about 10 minutes.
• To a blender, add the tomatoes (with the skins peeled), onions, garlic, chiles (drained from water), sriracha sauce, cloves and allspice. Puree for a good two minutes, until very smooth. Add a little water if needed.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large dutch oven over medium high. Add the puree (it will probably splatter) to the pan and and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add a cup of water, vinegar, sugar and a Tbs. of salt. Partially cover and simmer on a medium heat for 30 minutes, adding a little more water if needed, to keep it at the same consistency.
• In the meantime, flip your oven to broil. Place the poblano peppers on a baking sheet and broil until blackened and charred all over, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately transfer to a small plastic bag, and seal it. Let sit for 15 minutes, allowing the skin to loosen. Once cool enough, peel the skin away from the peppers and slice into small strips.
• After 30 minutes of simmering, add the chicken, cilantro, mint, Mexican oregano, hominy, chicken stock and another Tbs. salt. Stir to combine, and simmer on medium for another 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
• Ladle pozole into bowls and garnish with sliced radishes, dice avocado, fresh sprigs cilantro and a good spritz of lime juice.

Southwest Black Bean Salad

Ingredients
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 corn on the cobb, grilled
1 green pepper
2 tomatoes or a pint cherry tomatoes, chopped
1/2 avocado
2 limes to be used as dressing
splash of olive oil to be used with lime juice (optional)
parsley or cilantro
salt and pepper to taste