Sunday, October 03, 2010

Bragos Bruschetta and an Avocado Contest

Today we're talking avocados (which just makes me so happy) because I have both an avocado recipe and an avocado contest.

This recipe is called Brago's Bruschetta and I got it from my mom many years ago and I haven't a clue where it originated. It might as well have spontaneously sprung up from the earth as far as I know but it's definitely worth sharing.

Bruschetta are little appetizers similar to crostini and are rather like cross-wise slices of baguettes with toppings.  The recipe was originally meant to be used this way and it's certainly good as an appetizer but I much prefer eating it as a sandwich or as a pizza topping.

You can make up this fresh salsa (which is what it essentially is) and put it on a split roll as a tasty sandwich or on a pizza crust for a fabulous pizza. Then you can grill it or toast it so that cheese melts perfectly and the garlic is beautifully mellow.  Your choice, but I'm just saying that melted is better.

4-6 large roma tomatoes, finely diced
1/3 cup olive oil
1 T balsamic vinegar
4 cloves minced garlic
¾ teaspoon salt
1 large diced avocado
1/3 pound smoked mozzarella cheese, cubed
½ cup chopped fresh basil, julienned
¾ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 medium pizza crusts or 4 split rolls or 2 sliced baguettes

Combine all the ingredients except the bread option in a large bowl and let it set for a couple hours to mellow.

Spread the mixture on a pizza crust, sandwich roll or on individual slices of baguette, depending on the purpose.  Then, toast it or don't--it's your call.

***

And now for the contest--Avocados from Mexico is sponsoring a contest here at Scribbit where you can submit your own original avocado recipe and take a shot at winning a $100 iCard gift certificate.

Here's how it works:

If you have a blog, post your own original avocado recipe then come back here and leave a link to your post in the comments section of this post.

The contest officially starts October 4th and runs through October 30th, the winner will be randomly chosen using a random number generator, and will then be announced here on November 1st. They are encouraging recipes for avocado salsa, guacamole and tacos though I will accept any recipe where avocados are an integral and vital ingredient (see my recipe for Diablo Verde Shakes as an example).

Tweeting about the contest using the hashtag #taconight is great and encouraged. Each Thursday, the first five tweets to @Guacgrl showing a picture of your "taco night" will receive a $25 iCard.

If you need a hint as to how to easily leave the hyperlink to your recipe in the comments section I would suggest doing it with HTML code this way (you can cut and paste it using the URL of your recipe post):

Sample HTML that you'd type in comments:  I've posted my recipe for <a href="URL of your avocado recipe post">Avocado Pancakes</a> at my blog, Everything Green and Bumpy.

How it will appear in comments: I've posted my recipe for Avocado Pancakes at my blog, Everything Green.

Got it? If you have questions let me know in an email and I can help you out. I'm sorry if you don't have a blog and want to participate--they don't want emailed recipes, only posted ones. Sorry.

You can always just leave the whole URL in comments but sometimes it gets cut off and it always gets confusing and messy. If you do it this way then people reading the comments can easily click on your recipe link and go see it at your site.

Please know this is being sponsored by Avocados by Mexico and I'm getting a $100 gift card of my own by participating.  For the finer, intimate and grossly overblown legal details of the contest please see the Official Rules and Privacy Policy Page that I have set up at the bequest of many lawyers.  But don't get me wrong. I love lawyers--even more than I love avocados.  Well, at least one lawyer in particular. . . .

And now, get thinking about avocado recipes! A hundred dollar iCard could be yours! I'm buying a new purse with mine--what will you do with yours?

28 comments:

John S. said...

My favorite taco recipe includes Mexican avocados.
Season favorite meat with:
chili powder
garlic
basil
and chlis to taste.

Then load taco shells with these ingredients and add lettuce, tomatoes and avocados. These avocados need to be mashed. Add:
diced yellow onions
garlic
lime juice.

Wonderful! Thanks for the chance.

Julee said...

I've posted my recipe for A Taco Layer Dip/Salad at my blog, Mommy's Memorandum.

Thabal said...

I make a simple salad: mix in chopped avocados, tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle some lemon juice on the top. Tastes like heaven. Thanks for the giveaway.

thabal628 (at) gmail (dot) com

Thabal said...

Tweeted the giveaway: http://twitter.com/Thabal628/status/26787735731

thabal628 (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

My favorite is really simple: BLAT wraps: bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, ranch dressing on a spinach tortilla-style wrap.

Unknown said...

My favorite guacamole recipe is very simple:
2 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp salt
2 tsp finely chopped yellow onions
2 tsp minced jalapeno
2 large ripe avocados, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp finely chopped plum tomato (1 small tomato)
2 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice
Mash together 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon of the onion, 1 teaspoon of the chile, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in the bottom of a medium-size bowl.
Add the avocados and gently mash with a fork until chunky-smooth.
Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture.
Stir in the tomato and lime juice, adjust the seasonings to taste, and serve with a basket of warm tortilla chips.

Christy AKA Trippin' Mama said...

How about Southwestern Avocado and Chicken wraps? Yum!

Perfect for those days when potty training your two-year-old triplets and keeping up with their older sister doesn't leave you much time to make a meal.

Trippin' Mama

Unknown said...

I'm really into eating healthy lately and here's one from a cookbook I just tried:

Layered Crab Salad

8oz fresh lump crabmeat (I used imitation)
1TB finely chopped chives (divided)
2 1/2 Teaspoons lemon-flavored olive oil (divided)- I used reg. with lemon juice
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
2 medium vine ripened tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and cute into 1/4 in diced

Put crabmeat in small bowl and gently toss with 1 teaspoon of chives, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and salt and pepper until combined. In a second bowl, mix the tomatoes with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and salt and pepper. Put diced avocados in a third bowl, add remaining olive oil, 1 teaspoon of chives, salt and pepper and toss well.

to assemble, divide 3/4 of the crab among four 6 oz wide-rimmed glasses. Top crab with 1/4 of tomatoes, followed by 1/4 of avocado. Use remaining crab meat to garnish each glass and sprinkle the remaining chives evenly over each salad. Serve immediately or chill and serve within an hour.

(from 5 ingredient fix by Claire Robinson)

Maggie Smith said...

I posted my recipe for Guacamole on my blog, Super Savvy Mommy
http://www.supersavvymommy.com/2010/10/my-favorite-guacamole-recipe.html

newmommyin08 AT yahoo DOT com

Ann Kroeker said...

I love avocados! Had one for lunch and now you've given me an idea for what I can do with the second one sitting on the counter.

Annie-Savor This Moment said...

Thanks for the contest!

I've posted my recipe for Avocado in the Sea Salad at my blog, Savor This Moment.

Susie Buetow said...

That bruschetta looks great!!!

Here is my recipe:
http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/2010/10/quick-and-simple-avocado-relish.html

Thanks! Susie

Susie Buetow said...

Avocado Relish

I think I posted it wrong the first time! Sorry

Shannon's Tales of Motherhood said...

My favorite recipe for Avocado Tacos is posted on my blog at
http://shannpf1977.blogspot.com/2010/10/recipe-for-avocado-tacos.html

Thanks,Shannon
shannpf1977 at yahoo dot com

c allen said...

i love all of these great recipes!

easy avocado cheese dip

3 avocados from mexico
8 oz. cheese dip (jar)
½ cup sour cream
½ cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 tsp. rosemary
1 tbs. garlic powder
½ cup pimentos, diced
1/3 cup water

Mash avocados; add cheese dip, sour cream and garlic. Combine all other ingredients, thoroughly mix.
Add 1/3-cup water to hold the green color.
Salt & pepper to taste. Cover & refrigerate.

thanks clallen at ntin dot net

i posted my recipe on fb
http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=163489747002384&id=742786748

Hetal said...

my fave vegan taco is
lettuce, beans,cheese,avocados..of course some seasoning and top it with cilantro.

Anonymous said...

These Quesadillas have avacados and olives inside for a tasty crunchy and cheesy delight!

10 (6 inch) corn tortillas
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives

2 avocados - peeled, pitted and sliced
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce

Directions:
1. Heat a large frying pan or griddle over a medium heat. Place one tortilla flat on the frying pan. After 1 minute flip the tortilla over. Sprinkle a little more than 1/4 cup cheese on the tortilla, followed by some olives, avocado, and hot pepper sauce. Place another tortilla on top to make a sandwich. Cover the quesadilla with a lid. After one minute, flip the quesadilla. When the cheese has melted on the inside, remove the quesadilla. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

2. Cut the quesadillas into triangles and serve.


panicxduh[at]yahoo[dot]com

~dab said...

I've posted my recipe for Guacamole at my blog.

Hetal said...

http://twitter.com/#!/hminnesota/status/28650104827

itsme said...

http://clarissaneiding.blogspot.com/2010/10/instead-of-dressing-on-salad.html here is my salad dressing alternative salsa

JoeyfromSC said...

The other blogs are allowing recipes in the comments..So I'm stumped haha

Please disregard if this is not acceptable! thanks for the chance to win!

I LOVE avocados!! My fave recipe is here:

Mushroom and Avocado Salad

(it's really good!! lol)

12 Italian bread slices, grilled
6 lettuce leaves (I use romaine!!)
1 medium avocado
1 lb white mushrooms
12 oz red bell pepper, diced
12 oz green bell pepper, diced
1/2cup of sherry wine vinegar
1/2cup of basil leaves, chopped
1/4 cup of whole grain mustard
1/8 cup of olive oil



In a bowl, mix the mustard, vinegar, basil, bell peppers and olive oil, then set that aside

Wash and slice the white mushrooms

Add the mushrooms to the dressing and marinate for 15 minutes

Place each salad portion on a lettuce leaf

Slice the avocado and place it on top

Serve with two slices of grilled Italian bread

EAT!! lol..yumo!!

Thanks for the chance to win!!

ajoebloe(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

This isn't stricyly a taco night dish but we hav eused it as a side or a salad and with chicken as a main dish.
This is a VERY simple recipe, but has alot of flavor!

2 avacados cut up
3 cups grapefruit cut into chunks
4-5 tbs honey (if you slightly heat it, it will toss better)
dash salt
fresh mint to taste

simply combine avacado and grapefruit
toss with honey add dash salt and fresh mint!
That is it!
In the summer I add cold grilled chiken for a super fast main dish
a small can of mandarin oranges, drained goes well when you add chicken.
tattgiff at centurytel dot net

Anne said...

Here is my recipe for avocado salsa
My recipe:
1 avocado,
1/4 c. red onions
8 cherry tomatoes
1 lime
1/4 c. coriander

Directions: chop avocado and squeeze lime over it. Chop red onions, tomatoes and coriander. Mix everything together.

carolpie said...

I use chicken tenders and cook them in some olive oil, with fresh garlic, cumin, chili powder, and granulated onion. Cook till tender, shred, and add some water. Keep hot.
Take your avocados and slice up. Dice tomatoes, and onions, if you like. Clean lettuce.
Put the chicken and all the veggies on tortillas and add cheese and sour cream.
spencer1953 at gmail dot com.

ewalsh40 said...

I do vegetarian tacos
Zatarans Black Beans and Rice Mix
Avacados
Tomato
Red Pepper Flakes
Mexican 3 Cheese Shredded Cheese
Taco shells
Just cook the black beans and rice as directed on the package and pile on the rest of the ingredients to taste. You can add in any other ingredients you prefer.
The avacados and tomatoes are good for you, It’s easy, and vegetarians don’t have to miss out on all of the taco goodness. I make them when I make regular meat tacos for my family.
ewalsh40(at)gmail(dot)com
ewalsh40(at)gmail(dot)com

Pete H. said...

Here's my favorite recipe:

Creamy Guacamole

2 ripe Avocados from Mexico
1/4 cup Cream cheese spread
2 tblsp. Finely chopped onions
1/4 cup Finely chopped tomatoes
2 tblsp. Lime Juice
1 Minced garlic clove
1/8 teasp. Salt
1 dash Black Pepper

Mash the avocados in a medium-sized bowl, then add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Makes 12 2-tablespoon servings.

Mari said...

My favorite recipe is quite simple. just take 2 avocados, add chopped onion, cilantro, tomatoes, a small amount of lime juice, and a bit of sea salt. If you like it spicy, you can add a sliver of habanero pepper (very hot) or jalapeƱo (mildly hot).

runningmatey at hotmail dot com

JJ said...

I like guacamole topped with salsa and served with tostitos.
Here is how I make my guacamole (I think I learned this from Betty Crocker Book) Mix 3 large avacados pitted and peeled, 2 tsp lemon juice, with 1/2 tsp hot sauce continue mixing until consistency is reached.