Avocado “Toast” + a Yucan Crunch giveaway (AIP & Paleo)

I went AIP before the big “avocado toast” craze began; however, thanks to Mission Heirloom’s Yucan Crunch crackers, I’ve been able to enjoy my own allergen-friendly version.

In December 2015, I had the pleasure of visiting Mission Heirloom in Berkeley, CA. Various AIP friends had highly recommended the paleo restaurant with many AIP options, but they also raved about Yucan Crunch crackers. I made it a point to try the Yucan Crunch and absolutely loved it—they really remind me of triscuits. I bought a bag on the spot & used it for breakfasts and snacks throughout the rest of our trip.

Fast forward to now and I’m still a huge Yucan Crunch fan. After my initial stash ran out, I ordered it several more times from the Mission Heirloom website, but luckily, procuring some is even easier these days because Yucan Crunch is now available on Amazon! And they're even Amazon Prime eligible!

To celebrate the Amazon debut of Yucan Crunch, I’m sharing my super easy avocado “toast” recipe. This is another recipe that almost isn’t a recipe due to how simple it is. But goodness, it is so tasty & really feels like a treat when I make it. Most often I’ll have the avocado toast plain, but it’s also delicious topped with smoked salmon or prosciutto.

Mission Heirloom has graciously agreed to give one of my readers FREE 4-pack of Yucan Crunch. Leave a commend on this post sharing how you'd most like to use Yucan Crunch crackers. This giveaway is only open to US residents and will run until Monday April 10, 2017.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary 4-pack of Yucan Crunch; however, this is a product I have happily purchased in the past & will continue to purchase in the future. I would never recommend a product I didn’t stand behind 100%. 

Avocado “Toast" 
yields 1 serving

1 avocado
juice from 1/4 lemon
Yucan Crunch, broken into large (or small) pieces
truffle salt, as needed (or other finishing salt of your choice.

1. In a small bowl, mash the avocado with the lemon juice. 
2. Spread the avocado/lemon mixture onto pieces of Yucan Crunch. 
3. Sprinkle with truffle salt. Eat immediately :) 

Note: some people prefer to toast their Yucan Crunch in a skillet or under the broiler, but I most often prefer it un-toasted. Feel free to do either, depending on your own preferences. Please DO NOT toast it in an actual toaster, as it could cause a fire if pieces break off into the toaster. 

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after an Amazon link is clicked with no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.

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Egg-free Tuna Salad (AIP, Paleo, Whole30)

From kindergarten through 8th grade, my two younger sisters and I attended a very small private school that did not have a traditional school lunch program, meaning that my mom packed lunches for us most days. One of my very favorites, probably more towards the middle school side of education, was tuna salad with corn chips & a tiny can of V8. The tuna salad—based on my Grandma Jones’s recipe—was made with canned tuna, kraft mayo, diced celery, celery seed & onion powder. I can still taste her version now, if I really think about it.

Tuna salad has changed a lot for me these days. It also has become something I eat not just because I like it but because i know it’s really good for me, especially with ingredients like sauerkraut & fresh veggies that my version incorporates. What took me the longest in my AIP tuna salad appreciation has been to get over the lack of mayo. I’ve tried a number of AIP “mayo” recipes, but honestly, in tuna salad I find a mashed avocado works better as a regular mayo replacer.

I’ve also grown to appreciate tuna salad because I typically have all the ingredients for it on hand, meaning that I can easily make it for a meal if other plans have fallen through (or if I simply didn’t start lunch prep early enough). In a pinch, I’ll eat the tuna salad by itself, but most of the time, I prefer it served over salad greens, or with plantain chips (a throwback to my days of eating tuna salad on corn chips), or on cucumber slices.

Egg-free Tuna Salad (AIP, Paleo, Whole 30) 
yields 1 large serving or two small servings 

1/2 of a large (90 g) Avocado, mashed
1 tsp Lemon Juice (fresh is best, but bottled works in a pinch)
1-5 oz can Canned Wild Caught Albacore Tuna  (do not drain or rinse)
2 Tbl (30 g) Sauerkraut (homemade is best)
1/3 c (42 g, approx 1 stalk) Celery, diced
1/4 c (42 g) Cucumber, diced
3 Tbl (9 g) Scallions, sliced
1/4 tsp Sea Salt

Plantain Chips, Cucumber slices, and/or salad greens for serving

1. In a medium mixing bowl, mash the avocado and lemon juice with a fork. 
2. Add the tuna (with the juices, do not drain or rinse for optimal omega 3 level), breaking it up with a fork & combining it with the avocado/lemon. 
3. Mix in the sauerkraut, diced celery, diced cucumber, sliced scallion & sea salt. 
4. Serve with plantain chips and cucumber slices, or over salad greens. 

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Grapefruit & Avocado Kale Salad (AIP)

I had intended to share this recipe back in December, but alas that never happened, due in part to some unexpected circumstances like the video card on my computer dying right in the middle of working on this post & some further health flare ups & the loss of a family member. I’m trying to get back to “normal” life, catching up with the recipes & posts I’d previously planned on sharing, such as this salad.

It’s a bit cliche to share a salad in January, I know, but whether or not you’re trying to make more health conscious decisions, this salad combination is delicious, easy & really good for you. It is one of my all-time favorites, even from my pre-AIP days. While I’ve been known to eat this salad any time of the year, it’s especially good when citrus fruits are in season. Once the organic Texas ruby red grapefruits began appearing in the grocery stores in late November, this salad has been in heavy rotation.  We’ll eat it as a side to a more main course item, or I’ll top it with some seared ahi tuna (or even wild-caught canned tuna) and it becomes the main course on it’s own.  If I don’t have kale on hand, I’ve also used arugula or spring mix instead, but I do like how sturdy the kale is & how it provides a little extra crunch.  

Also, don’t skimp on the grapefruit vinaigrette. It’s a refreshing dressing that not only ensures all the residual grapefruit juice/pulp gets utilized, but also breaks out of the realm of my “regular” vinaigrettes (such as red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar).

Grapefruit & Avocado Kale Salad
serves 2

3 heaping cups of chopped Kale, ribs removed (or substitute other greens like Arugula)
3 Tbl Grapefruit Vinaigrette, recipe follows
Sea Salt, to taste
1 Avocado, sliced
1 grapefruit, sectioned, reserving the remaining juice (for a tutorial, see this Steller Story I created)

1.  In a large bowl, toss together the kale with the vinaigrette, “massaging” the dressing into the kale until well coated. 
2. Top with sliced avocado & grapefruit sections. 
3. Taste & adjust salt, as needed. 
4. Serve immediately, or cover & refrigerate to serve later. Note: wait to slice/add avocado if not serving the salad immediately. 

Grapefruit Vinaigrette
1/4 c Grapefruit Juice, squeezed from the juice left after sectioning the grapefruit (see above)
1/4 c Avocado Oil (or substitute Olive Oil)
2 tsp chopped shallot (approximately 6 g by weight)
1/4 tsp Sea Salt

1. Combine all the ingredients in a glass measuring cup or high speed blender. Blend together, either using an immersion blender or the high speed blender. 
2. Use in the grapefruit & avocado salad. Place any leftovers into a glass mason jar, cover & store in the refrigerator. Shake before serving. 

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Simple Guac (AIP)

Sharing a recipe for homemade guacamole seems a bit “simple” to me, but this particular guac concoction has become such a staple in my Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) life, that I feel like I *need* to share it.  I make it/consume it multiple times a week, if not daily! 

I love guacamole, but most conventional recipes have nightshade ingredients, like tomatoes or peppers in them, or they include onion (which I don’t mind during the initial eating, but I detest tasting onions for hours post-eating). I’ve discovered that if I’m going to eat guac around here, especially given my proximity to the US/Mexico border & the regional love of all things nightshade & corn, it’s best to make my own to avoid any possibility of cross-contamination.

This simple guac works not just as a snack & dip, but also as a pseudo-condiment. Some of my favorite uses include eating it on grass-fed burgers, or with grilled chicken sausages. Or I often dip plantain chips or cucumber slices into it.  I customize the exact components of the guac, based on what we have on hand. Avocados are a staple in our fridge. Either lemon juice or lime juice works. Cilantro is optional (depending on if I can find some good quality herbs or not). Salt and garlic powder are a must.

Simple Guacamole (AIP) 
Serves 1
**Can be easily scaled up**

1 medium Avocado, ripe
1 tsp Lime Juice (or substitute lemon)
1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
1/8 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Chopped Cilantro (optional)

1.  Cut the avocado in half & gently remove the pit. Score the avocado halves & use a spoon to scoop out the flesh into a medium mixing bowl. 
2. Use a fork to roughly mash the avocado. Add the citrus juice, garlic, and sea salt. Continue mashing until the desired consistency is reached--I personally prefer to keep it a bit more chunky if I’m eating it with burgers, but a little more mashed if eaten as a dip. Taste & adjust seasonings as necessary. 
3. Serve immediately, or place plastic film directly on the surface of the guac & refrigerate until ready to serve.     

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Carob Avocado Mousse (AIP)

When thinking about avocados, most peoples’ minds go immediately to guacamole or salads. But lately I’ve been reconsidering the uses for avocados, specifically when it comes to desserts. 

 The avocado’s flavor is somewhat ambivalent--it can be used in savory applications, as well as in sweet. It plays off of the flavors of items used with it. Mash avocado with some salt, lemon/lime juice & garlic powder, creating a simple guacamole (which also happens to be one of my staple items these days) Or, blend the avocado with honey, coconut milk & carob/cocoa powder, creating a luscious, “healthier” dessert. Both items (or really any avocado item) can be a little on the rich side, so portions might be smaller than you’d normally think. But due to the higher fat content, you’ll feel more satisfied even with eating less.

Using carob is not something I’ve explored until recently. I’m still following my doctor suggested detox diet, which is basically a more extreme version of the Autoimmune Protocol (commonly referred to as AIP). Both my doctor-suggested-diet and AIP put chocolate on the "avoid" list, hence, no cocoa powder. Enter carob powder, a great alternative to chocolate & cocoa powder. It doesn’t taste *exactly* the same as chocolate--my husband likes to say it has more of a roasted peanut taste--but when you can’t have the original, you settle for the next best substitution.

 The slightly nutty carob paired with the creamy avocado, sweetened with a touch of honey (which I recently had the ok from my doctor to add small amounts into my diet! yay!), and lightened with a little coconut milk to make it a bit more pudding/mousse-like.  A perfect little treat to satisfy my sweet tooth, while still staying within my dietary guidelines & ensuring I won’t regret eating it later.

Carob Avocado Mousse

makes approximately 4 servings 

2 Organic Avocados, ripe but not brown (mine weighed 10.5 oz / 207 g, without pits & skin)

2 Tbl (42 g) Organic Honey (local preferred) 

5 Tbl (30 g) Carob Powder (could sub cocoa powder, if preferred) 

3/4 c (186 g) Organic Coconut Milk Beverage 

1. Place all ingredients into a high speed blender or food processor.
2. Blend on high speed until everything is combined, scraping the sides as necessary. 
3. Portion into cups & refrigerate a couple hours before serving. 

Notes: 

• If you're not following an Autoimmune Protocol, feel free to substitute cocoa powder instead of the carob. The carob will give the mousse a slightly more toasted flavor. 
• The mousse can be frozen for a delicious frozen treat 

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