California Avocados Online

http://avocado.org/

Review by Debbie Mazo

Guacamole lovers rejoice! Avocados are a cholesterol-free, low-saturated fat food with only 5.0 grams of fat per serving—an acceptable level for low-fat diets. Equally important, avocados are "nutrient dense" in that they supply more of your daily nutrient requirements for fewer calories spent. Visit the California Avacados Online website and answer all of your questions about this little known fruit.

From nutritional information to growing avocados in your home garden, this well-presented site sponsored by the California Avocado Commission gives you all kinds of excuses for indulging in avocados. Check out the illustrated review of avocado varieties which includes ripening, handling, and seasonal information. Or, learn how to make the most of your avocados in the How to Select, Ripen, and Peel an Avocado section. Remember, the best way to determine if your avocado is ready to eat is to gently squeeze it in the palm of your hand. Ripe fruit is firm, yet yields to gentle pressure.

Now that you know how to select a California avocado, you'll want to explore the extensive collection of tasty avocado recipes. Organized by category, the recipe database has everything from Chef's favorites such as Fettuccine with Walnuts & California Avocado to award-winning guacamole choices such as Castias Valley Ranch Guacamole.

There's also a Recipe Exchange Bulletin Board where avocado lovers can view submitted recipes and share their secrets. The recipes make this site worth a visit as well as prove that life without avocados is definitely the pits!

Debbie Mazo is a writer and editor based in Vancouver, Canada. She currently specializes in technical and marketing materials, but is also pursuing opportunities in food journalism.

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