A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a luncheon celebrating Gaby Dalkin's new cook book Absolutely Avocados, and as a parting gift she gave us the book and a bag of delicious California avocados.
I love avocados and eat them all year long. I will gladly pick guacamole and chips over a dessert any day. GASP....I know!!!! So naturally, the first section in the book that I examined was of course the guacamole chapter. There was everything from Mango and Cilantro Guacamole to Cajun Shrimp Guacamole.
But the recipe that really caught my eye and got my taste buds tingling was the bacon-cotija guacamole. Smoky bacon and sharp crumbly cotija cheese paired with a creamy avocado...um YES PLEASE. Even Baby Ben couldn't get enough! Every time I turned around he would dip his chip into the guacamole and suck it off...and then give me this look!
All I can say is genius. This girl is a freaking avocado goddess. The flavors and textures were fantastic. I cannot wait to try all of the 79 recipes in the book including the avocado chocolate chip cookies and brownies (I know right!)
But wait....I want one of you to go on the avocado journey with me! One of you lucky readers will win your very own copy of Absolutely Avocados and a box of fresh California avocados delivered to your door!
The nitty gritty:
Giveaway is open to US residents only. Winner will be picked using random.org on July 1st, 2013 and will have 72 hours to respond with their mailing address. If winner does not respond within that time, another winner will be picked. This is not a sponsored giveaway nor are these affiliate links, I just want to share some Avocado love!
To enter:
Subscribe to The Seaside Baker (in the upper right hand corner)
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Leave a comment telling me that you did all that tedious, yet fun stuff! If you are already a follower, just comment telling me so, and you will be entered to win too.
Good Luck!
Now onto this magnificent recipe from the book, Absolutely Avocados.
- 4 strips bacon
- 3 Haas avocados
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese , plus more if desired
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped serrano chile pepper
- Juice of 1 lime
- Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Tortilla chips , for serving
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
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Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
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Lay the bacon on the baking sheet in a single layer and transfer to the oven.
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Let the bacon cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until crispy, turning the bacon over once in the middle of cooking time.
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Remove baking sheet from oven and transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
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Once the bacon is cool enough to touch, chop it into bite-size pieces and set aside.
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Cut each avocado in half lengthwise.
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Remove the pit from the avocado and discard.
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Remove the avocado from the skin, and place the avocado flesh in a bowl.
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Add the cilantro, cotija cheese, serrano pepper, lime juice, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mash with a fork until half smooth and half chunky. Fold in half of the bacon.
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Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
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Garnish the guacamole with the remaining bacon, and add more crumbled cotija cheese if desired.
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Serve immediately with tortilla chips. Serves 4.
BriGeeski
Followed, liked and subscribed! That guacamole looks amazing! Yum!
Brenda
I too would choose chips and guacamole over a dessert any day!
brigeeski
Followed, liked and subscribed! That guacamole looks amazing!
Michelle Darensbourg
I am already a subscriber. Following on Fb, twitter and pinterest. I don't use instagram.
rusthawk
I am a feloow avocado lover and subscriber to your email.
rusthawk
I follow you on facebook as rust hawk.
rusthawk
I follow you on twitter @rusthawk
rusthawk
I follow you on pinterest as rusthawk.
rusthawk
I follow you on instagram as rusthawk1. Thank you!
Amanda
I already follow your blog!
Linda Pirch
I am following you on Pintrest. Thank you. I love your blog.
Mary
I'm a Facebook follower!
Mary
I am also following you on instagram (@kyten).
Mary
I already follow you on twitter (@kyten).
Pamela Joy
I couldn't follow on INstagram , I don't have a smartphone or android. I
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I already Subscribe to The Seaside Baker
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I already
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I already
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Pamela Joy
I LOVE AVOCADOS!!!
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I'm a FB fan.
AnnaZed
I do all of the liking and the following (in every form); it's not tedious at all.
I am a subscriber to this email: margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com
AnnaZed
I am a FB fan as Margot Core
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Kristy Porter Graboski
I follow you on Pinterest and on Twitter @kstubbs80
MonkeyBreadandSweetPea
I follow you through all of the listed sites except for Pinterest. I can't add another thing to follow! It's hard enough reading everything I follow already! 🙂 Thanks for offering this contest!
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I'm following you on Instagram - @Diapers_n_Heels
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I'm following you on twitter
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I subscribed!
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Linda McDonald
Hi Jackie, think follow you on everything! Not very computer savvy sometimes! Hope to see you soon, maybe at Gia's b-day. 🙂
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Love this site!
Ttrockwood
Awesome awesome giveaway!!!
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Liked you on fb (teri)