What's In Season - February + Recipe

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Northern California

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Avocados, one of my absolute favorite things!! Is it a fruit or a vegetable? The answer is --- it's actually a fruit. Check out the wonderful avocado and crab recipe below.

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Facts: Avocados are thought to have originated in Mexico, though their exact genesis is unknown. Like corn, figs, sugar cane and other ancient crops, the avocado is a cultigen: a species domesticated so long ago (around 7,000 years in the case of avocados) and that has undergone such dramatic changes that its wild ancestor cannot be determined. Whatever the original source, most agree that cultivated avocados originate from three different regions: Mexico, Guatemala, and West India. The rich fruits were first introduced to California in the late 1800s and have steadily grown in popularity.

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Health: The avocado is free of cholesterol and sodium. It only contains 5 grams fat in 30 grams avocado. This type of fat is a monounsaturated fat, known as "good fat". Avocado is the fruit that contains the most dietetic fiber, it has 60% more potassium than a medium banana.

(Information Courtesy of Healthy Eating)

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Vegetables

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•asparagus
•beans

•beets

•bok choy

•broccoli

•brussels sprouts

•cabbage

•cardoons

•carrots

•cauliflower

•chard

•collards

•cress

•dandelion/chicory

•endive
•fennel

•garlic

•gourds

•herbs

•horseradish

•kale

•leeks

•lettuces

•mushrooms

•nettles

•onions

•parsnips

•potatoes

•radish

•rapini

•rutabaga

•scallions

•spinach

•sunchokes

•turnips
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Fruits and Nuts

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•avocados

•grapefruit
•kiwi

•kumquats

•lemons

•limes

•mandarins

•oranges
•pears

•persimmons

•pomelos

•tangerines

•walnuts

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Avocado and Crab Meat Soup

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Ingredients:

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8 oz (one can) of crab meat.

4 avocados, peeled and seeded.1 medium onion, finely chopped.

4 cups of chicken stock.

2 cups of heavy cream.

4 tablespoons of butter.

1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour.

½ teaspoon of garlic powder.

Salt and pepper, to taste.

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Preparation Instructions:

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Mash together the avocados and crab meat.

Sauté the chopped onion in the butter.

Add the all-purpose flour, garlic powder and chicken stock, then whip until smooth.

Add the avocado/ crab mixture to the liquid and simmer for twenty minutes.

Add the cream and salt and pepper.

Serve as desired.

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(Recipe courtesy of Avocado Recipes and photos courtesy of Jupiter Images)