Sunday, November 21, 2010

Florida Avocado


Having just returned from taking part in the first farmer's market in Inverness, Florida, which was a great success, I was famished. Being an almost native California gal, I am well accustomed to avocado. When I was a kid we lived in Southern California and were lucky to have avocado trees on our property. It was there I gradually learned to appreciate the mild flavor of avocados.

Since it's Florida avocado season, I purchased one at Skoors Fresh Produce Market, where I recently signed up for their organics to go program. The avocado was huge, almost five inches across. As a comparison, the plate the avocado is sitting on is eight inches square. It was firm when I purchased it, but ripened on the counter in a few days. As evidenced by the photo, which I took after I ate it, the Florida avocado was delicious. Sometimes hunger takes precedence over photography. I had half for lunch and the other half later this evening. Gary is allergic to avocados so I only purchase them occasionally.

Eating avocado has the purported benefit of lowering cholesterol in the blood. Avocados are high in fat, but the good kind of fat. About 75% of an avocado's calories come from fat, most of which is monounsaturated. Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas. They are rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K. Avocados also have a high fiber content. Avocados, however, can be toxic to some animals, so the fruit is best left for we humans to consume.


I finished glazing and loading the kiln, and will fire today. I have two vases which are too tall for the kiln. For the bisque I fired them on the floor of the kiln, but for the glaze I didn't want to put them on the base of the kiln. I might have to take them to someone else to fire. But they don't fire with a slow cool like I do? What do do? Up next I'll post about my glazing techniques, so stay tuned.

8 comments:

  1. "Sometimes hunger takes precedence over photography." I love it. I recently ate my first Florida avocado and it was twice as big as those I usually eat and twice as tasty, it seemed. I miss having the "organics to go" option. Santa Fe had something along those lines during the summer, but in Minnesota we depend on local food coops. Not the same, but close. Have a good Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. poor gary... so sad to be allergic to avocados! thanks for sharing the nutritional info on them. it takes the guilt out of eating them! i have had trouble finding good avocados here in NC... wouldn't you think we would have some of those giant FLA grown ones here?

    ReplyDelete
  3. interesting subject, avocados... my favorite food in the world. surprisingly, i do not care for the florida kind. i'm a california avocado aficionado through and through. calavo brand is my fave. unfortunately they seem to be out of season. i'm wondering though, how cheap those ones are down there when they are in season. although i'm not so hot on eating them alone, i still like them for guacamole

    ReplyDelete
  4. If I had an avocado tree in my backyard, I think I'd die (happily) from ODing. Thanks for the vitamin content (didn't realize there was Vitamin B, too.) My hub isn't allergic, just didn't care for them until he read they were so good for him. Now we have to share (so I buy more, sign of a true addict!) Linda, I hope you and Gary have a really great Thanksgiving! (We're staying here but LA bound for Christmas, yay!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Up here in Alaska we take what we can get -no arctic Avo's grown here and too bad because I LOVE 'EM! I'll eat them in Guacamole, plain, with salt and pepper, on slices of toasted sourdough bread, in a Mozzarella and Tomato sandwich with balsamic dressing... anyway I can! Once and a while we get your biggies but mainly we get the California Calavo ones mmmm. Didn't know about the potassium -good fact :o)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love them and what a great glaze that one would make!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Teresa, thanks, I found out about this local place from a woman at an art fair who makes soap, thankfully I stopped to chat with her, then I heard about the farmer's market.

    Hi Michele, thanks, I guess Florida grows a lot of avocados, but I know last year was a bad frost so maybe there aren't as many this year for shipping.

    Hi Jim, thanks, I think this avocado was $1.50 here and it really was huge. I do think the California avocados are better, this one was almost sweet tasting and really bland and not so buttery. Homemade guacamole is the best.

    Hi Kittie, thanks, I like looking up vitamins for food I like so I can rationalize to myself to eat more of them. Ha.

    Hi Cindy, thanks, you have given me a few ideas about how to eat avocados, Ha.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Meredith, thanks, you know you're right that green and brown tone together would be a great combo for a glaze.

    ReplyDelete

I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment