AVOCADO INSPIRATION

Several avocados sitting in a wooden bowl on my counter kept calling my attention, and my appetite as well.  Our favorite way to eat them is, without a doubt,  guacamole and chips. 

 And so the decision to make a Mexican meal was made, along with the guacamole....

 The simplest and most delicious version is:  mash ripe avocados with a fork in a bowl; mince onions to taste, garlic to taste, and cut a tomato into very small pieces.  Salt and pepper and a dallop or two of mayonnaise (not salad dressing!).  Mix together, taste and adjust.  This is truly a mouth-watering appetizer.

 Spicy black beans another of our favorite dishes, perhaps not quite so simple, but simple enough.

1 can black beans drained and rinsed; one (or to taste) dried cayenne pepper minced and reconstituted in a cup of orange juice; saute one small onion, one carrot and one stalk celery and one sweet red pepper, all cut into small pieces, in olive oil.  When onion is soft, add the orange juice with the cayenne and a pint or so of whole tomatoes, and let cook for about 20-25 minutes.  Taste for salt and pepper, and make necessary adjustments.

Spanish rice...

Once again, saute chopped onion, sweet red pepper, cilantro, garlic, in olive oil, add one cup rice and saute until golden.  Add either tomato 'juice' or whole tomatoes, stir and cook until rice is tender.  I add salt, pepper, a bit of dried oregano, some cumin, and a touch of chili powder.

Chicken enchiladas...,

Saute chopped onion, garlic, sweet red peppers in olive oil , add cut up chicken breasts, saute.  I then add some enchilada sauce that I made last fall and froze.  This basically consists of pureed tomatoes, cumin, oregano, salt/pepper, and some pureed onion/garlic.

When chicken is cooked through, lay out tortillas and put a scoop full down each one, add a little salsa, roll up and place in a 9 x 13" oiled pan with salsa spread thinly over the bottom.  After the pan is full, spread more salsa over the top, grate cheese over this and cover with an oiled piece of tin foil.  Bake in a preheated (350 degree) oven for about 40-45 minutes.  The last 10 minutes remove the foil, and let the cheese brown.

OLE`