Eggless Avocado Banana Brownies ~ Day 134

Healthy, low-fat brownie with a hint of banana and jaggery.  Turn those ripe bananas and avocados into these delicious, rich and fudgy brownies.  

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Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 20 to 25 minutes

Yields:  13x9-inch pan of brownies

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Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour - 1 and 1/2  cups
• Coconut flour - 1/2 cup
• Unsweetened cocoa powder - 3/4 cup
• Brown sugar - 1 cup, packed
• Cane sugar - 1/2 cup
• Powdered jaggery - 1/2 cup
• Baking powder - 1 tsp
• Salt - 1/4 tsp
• Ripe banana - 1, large,mashed
• Ripe avocado - 1, mashed
• Vegetable oil - 1/4 cup
• Milk - 1/3 cup
• Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips - 1 cup

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Brush or spray a 13x9-inch baking pan with oil and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, cocoa, brown sugar, cane sugar, jaggery, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk the mashed banana, avocado, oil, milk, and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Add the banana mixture into the flour mixture and gently stir until just combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  The mixture will be thick and tight, but that is okay.   Do not try to add more liquid.
5. Spread the batter into the baking pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Keep checking after 20 minutes to prevent over baking.
6. Place the tray on a wire rack and let it cool completely before cutting into squares.

Zucchini Noodles with Roasted Red Pepper and Avocado Pesto ~ Day 64

 This is a simple, delicious and healthy way to replace pasta when you are counting calories and carbs.  Zucchini noodles or zoodles are made with a spiralizer, a popular gadget that transforms vegetables and fruits into spirals like thick and thin spaghetti, or ribbons.  It is so easy to use and the noodles are ready in less than five minutes.  With many different options from table top to handheld spiralizers, Paderno and Veggeti Pro brands are more popular slicers in the market.  Even if you don't own this lovely gadget, it is quite simple to make these spirals.  Just use the vegetable peeler, peel thick slices out of zucchini or any vegetable, stack them together and cut into thin noodles.

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Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Serves: 2

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Ingredients:

• Zucchini - 2 
• Garlic - 1 clove, finely chopped
• Olive oil - 1 tbsp

For the pesto sauce:

• Red peppers - 2
• Avocado - 1, pitted 
• Almonds or Walnuts - 1/4 cup ( I used both)
• Fresh basil - 1 cup
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Lemon juice - 2 tsp
• Ground black pepper - 1/2 tsp or to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese - 1/4 cup
• Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Rub oil over red peppers and place them on a baking tray.  Bake for 15 minutes or until the peppers are charred on both sides, turning once.  Let it cool and peel the skin.
3. Using a spiralizer, cut the ends of the zucchini and make spirals.  
4. In a food processor, place the nuts and process until coarse.  Add the remaining ingredients for the pesto along with the roasted red pepper and process until smooth.
5. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet.  Add the chopped garlic and saute for 10 seconds.
6. Add the zucchini noodles and saute for 30 seconds.  Add desired amount of pesto and toss well.
7. Season with more cheese, salt and pepper.  Serve hot.

Avocado - Fruit Salad with Citrus Dressing ~ Day 7

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Preparation time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2 -4

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Ingredients:
Avocado - 2, pitted and cubed
Cherry tomatoes - 10, cut into halves
Cucumber - 1, small, peeled and cubed
Pineapple chunks - 3/4 cup
Grapes (red, green or both) - 1/2 cup, cut into halves
Black beans - 1 can, rinsed and drained
Salad mix - 2 cups (I used spring mix)

For the dressing:
Orange Juice - 1/4 cup
Lemon Juice - 2 tbsp
Lemon zest - 1 tsp
Olive Oil - 3 tbsp (I used avocado oil)
Ground black pepper - 1 tsp or to taste
Chat masala - 1 tsp (optional)
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the salad.
2. Whisk all the ingredients for the dressing in another bowl until smooth.  You can also use a blender to make the dressing.
3. Before serving, add the desired amount of dressing to the salad and serve.