What am I?I am a fruit that is known for my bumpy skin and pear-like shape. Some people even call me an "alligator pear" because of how I look. I'm a complicated fruit. You cannot look at my size to tell if I'll taste delicious or am ready to pick. Inside I have a big seed or pit that you can't eat, but the rest is bright green and delicious! Where I growI grow on trees in warm places like Mexico and California. My tree is a special kind of tree that needs lots of sunshine and water to grow big and healthy. One tree can grow about 150 fruits per year! Don't worry about waiting until I'm ripe on the tree. I will never get ripe there... it's only after you pick me that I will ripen and be ready to eat. Until I'm ready to eat, my skin will be green and my flesh will be hard. After I'm pickedAfter I'm picked, I can take anywhere from several days to a week or more to ripen. When I am ripe, my skin will turn from green to a darker color, and I will be slightly soft to the touch. Then, I can be cut open and eaten, or mashed up to make a delicious dip or spread called guacamole. I'm often added to Mexican-inspired dishes and salads, and I can even be added to baked goods and smoothies! Did you guess... AvocadoEspañol: palta Did you guess that I am an avocado? That's right! Avocados are a superfood that are packed with healthy fats and vitamins. They can help keep your heart, skin, and eyes healthy. So next time you see a bumpy green fruit at the grocery store or at a restaurant, give it a try! Learn more and explore an avocado farm! Feed your food curiosity! Snackster Sam provides fun and educational content about food that grows. Join the adventure. Download the Snackster Sam app from Google Play or the App Store!
Hip hip hooray! It's Snackster Sam's 2nd birthday! We sat down with Snackster Sam to see how he's celebrating:
Snackster Sam, Happy Birthday! How do you feel about turning 2? Time flies when you're adventuring through space and sharing all the best snacks with your friends! I am excited to be two but looking forward to what the next year has in store! Out of all the snacks on your list, what's your favorite snack? I love sweet potatoes... they are nutritious, affordable, filling, and can spice (or sweeten) any meal. One day, I thought it might be fun to add sweet potatoes to a Mexican dish, and now it's a must-have ingredient! What I love about this meal is it's so versatile. I call it a taco, but you can serve it in a variety of ways!
I find that it makes enough for a couple of meals, and you can change the recipe every time you eat it! You can wrap it into a tortilla, leave it plain on the plate (as shown), add different ingredients, and my personal favorite is to add egg and have it for lunch the next day! Try experimenting with sweet potatoes! What culinary creations will you create? I hope you share! Let's face it, the holidays are EXHAUSTING, and maybe one reason we overeat is because we are too tired to make a proper meal. That's how I felt today after coming home from a long holiday. I opened the fridge - empty. My first thought was to just order dinner or go out to eat, but I knew that would just delay the REAL solution, which was to go to the grocery store. So I bundled up, brought my shopping buddy, and ventured to our local grocery store with a couple of ideas in mind for dinner. I like to go to the store with little or no plans for meals for the week. I know it's a foreign concept to many of my meal-planning friends, but if I go in with a set plan, I may miss out on discounts, fresh and in-season produce, and new recipe ideas. When I shop, I start in the produce section and base all of my meals for the week on what is on sale and what looks ripe and ready to eat. If my meal plan includes avocados but they are not ready to eat, I would either be forced to use unripe avocados or change my meal plan. Going in with no plans makes shopping more fun and keeps my mind opened to possibilities! Luckily, there were good sales on produce that I wanted. I picked up some Portobello mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes, green and orange peppers, and avocado. With these ingredients, I knew I could make a large meal that would feed my family for two meals - Vegetarian Chili. I grabbed the other ingredients I would need, along with items for other meals for the week, and headed home to get started on dinner. SNACKSTER SAM'S BIG ADVENTURE - ON SALE NOW What I love about chili is it's SO easy. You can add more of the ingredients you like, add as much or little seasoning as you want, and it's a hands off meal. It's really hard to make a mistake. After you chop all the vegetables, you can let the heat do its thing until you're ready to eat. This chili is so simple, I was on the phone throughout the preparation and cook time! I used this Vegetarian Chili Recipe for inspiration. This chili is not your average chili recipe . . . think of it more as a Mexican-influenced chili. With cilantro and avocado, this recipe takes me to the beaches of Mexico. It's packed with vegetables and is meatless, but is not lacking in flavor or protein. If you are wanting to make this but are nervous about the cost of Portobello mushrooms, compare the cost of the mushrooms to the meat you would have used for traditional chili. Or if you can, make this when you can get the ingredients on sale! Not Your Average Chili RecipeINGREDIENTS (You can add or remove ingredients to your liking) 2 tablespoons oil (olive, coconut, or canola) 1 large onion, chopped (red, yellow, or white) 1 bell pepper, chopped (orange, yellow, green, or red) 2 cloves minced garlic 2 zucchini, chopped 1 cup corn kernels (frozen or fresh) 4 portobello mushrooms, washed and cut (I just broke the mushrooms as I was washing) 3 large tomatoes, chopped CANNED GOODS 1 can black beans (you can use chili black beans or plain - drain and wash according to directions on can) 1 can tomato sauce OR 2 cans of canned tomatoes (whole or diced) 1 can vegetable stock, chicken stock, or water SEASON TO YOUR TASTES 1-2 Tbsp chili powder 1 Tbsp ground cumin 1/4 tsp cayenne GARNISH (optional - but good!) Chopped fresh cilantro leaves Avocado Chopped green onions Cooked brown rice (can add to finished chili or serve on the side - or use to make leftovers different!) DIRECTIONS Add oil to a large stock pot and turn heat to medium-high. Add chopped onions and peppers. Stir and let cook for about 3 minutes, or until onion starts to become translucent. Add garlic, zucchini, mushrooms, and corn (if using fresh). Stir and let cook for about 6 minutes. Add seasoning and stir until vegetables are thoroughly coated. Add canned good items and fresh tomatoes. (Add corn if frozen.) Bring chili to boil and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve and garnish as desired. Try it and post in the comments what you think of this recipe! Did you make any adjustments? Have suggestions? Tell us! Danielle is the mother of two, small business owner, and creator of Snackster Sam. She has been concerned about healthy habits and nutrition for over a decade, and conducted an award-winning scientific study on portion control. Danielle is an author and community activist who is passionate about helping people reach and exceed their personal and professional goals.
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