Comfort Food: Avocado-Tuna Salad & Giveaway

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, our backyard had various fruit trees, including two Avocado trees. Two gorgeous, plentiful trees that gifted us every season with plump avocados, which we consumed day and night; shared with family and friends; and even sadly, some fell to the ground and the birds enjoyed them since we sometimes could not keep up.

And now on Martha's Vineyard, our current home, Avocado trees aren't really the norm. Actually, they don't exists in the Northeast at all (for all I know). And having to buy avocados at the local Stop & Shop isn't my number one preferred method, since they aren't the best varieties or condition. This is were SoCal Avocados comes in. When Virtual Potluck was offered the opportunity to work with this small avocado ranch, we jumped on the occasion! It was fantastic to work with a small operation, where we knew exactly where our avocados where coming from (Tierra Rejada Ranch in Northern California). The personal attention and customer service they provide reflects on the care they give each of their orders.

SoCal Avocados offers an Avocado of the Month Club, were you receive 20 avocados each month for a mere $30! Isn't that amazing? Having fresh avocados every month, no matter where you live!If you'd like more information about SoCal Avocados, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.



So, what was in the box? 12 gorgeous avocados, ready to ripen. Did you know Avocados ripen only after they are picked? The great thing is that with such a big quantity of avocados, you can time the ripening by either freezing them or placing them in the fridge to slow the process. Want to have them ripen quicker? Place in proximity to apples or bananas, which aid avocados in their ripening process. Some of the varieties offered by SoCal Avocados: Bacon, Fuerte, Pinkerton, and Hass. Each avocado has a specific flavor and texture, with my favorite being the Fuerte, a smooth and creamy fruit that with a pinch of salt comes to life.

Today I am sharing with you my ultimate comfort food. No, it's not tomato soup & grilled cheese, but tuna salad over hot jasmine rice. I don't know how or when I started to love this combination, but it has become my go to dish to make when I'm cooking for myself or want a quick and comforting meal.

Avocado-Tuna Salad

Makes 3/4 cup 

1 can tuna, drained

1 medium avocado, roughly chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon sour cream

juice of half a lime

to taste: salt, pepper, red chili flakes

1. Fluff tuna in a small bowl. Reserve.
2. Puree avocado, olive oil, sour cream and lime with an immersion blender (or regular blender). 
3. Mix avocado puree with tuna, adding as much avocado as you like. 
4. Taste and season. Add enough red chili flakes if you like heat. 

 Uses for this Avocado-Tuna Salad

• Top jasmine rice for a comforting lunch
• Make sandwiches
• Serve alongside greens salad: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers
• Use as a dip with chips or fried tortillas
  

For more recipes, ideas, and avocado uses, head on over to Miss in the Kitchen, our Avocado Host!
 

Avocado Giveaway!! One reader will win a variety box of twelve (12) SoCal fresh avocados of the available varieties. 

To enter, visit SoCal Avocados and comment telling me which avocado variety you'd love to try the most. The comments are the official entry, there is no purchase necessary, void where prohibited. US mailing addresses only. One (1) winner will be chosen randomly. Prize will be shipped by SoCal Avocados. The contest ends Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 11:59 pm Eastern. The winner will be announced on Sunday, February 26th.

Boozy Side Dish: Spicy Beer Rice

Over at Virtual Potluck, we love our drinks and cocktails! Be it a non-alcoholic Pumpkin Spice Latte by Farmgirl Gourmet, a Creamy Hazelnut & Rum cocktail by Donna of Cookistry, or a Red Wine & Cherry Spritzer by Not Rachel Ray, we love any liquid libations. 


So when we were contacted by The Lewis Bear Company to review a few of their beers, we were were pretty excited to drink up! Check out the links at the bottom of this post to visit other blogs and see what they made with the beer. 

The Lewis Bear Company is a beverage distributorship founded in 1876 that holds the regional franchise for Anheuser-Busch. The company is headquartered in Pensacola and maintains offices in DeFuniak Springs and Panama City. The current president is Lewis Bear, Jr.. -Wikipedia Page

With my beer, I decided to make a unique side dish by infusing jasmine rice with beer. It's a perfect side dish for a quick weekday dinner, and you can make it for special occasions by adding some chopped roasted red peppers. 

Victory Brewing Company's Headwaters Pale Ale 
Tasting Notes from the company: This firmly crispy and aromatically arousing pale ale integrates a softly supportive malt base with underlies streams of herbal hop complexity.

Spicy Beer Rice
This is the  perfect side dish to your tailgating dishes! Add it to quesadillas, wrap it up in a breakfast burrito or toss it with cheese and ground beef to make a rice casserole dish!

Serves 2-3

 

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup jasmine rice

1 tablespoon Sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce)

1 cup Victory Brewing Company's Headwaters Pale Ale*

season with: salt, pepper and red pepper flakes

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium sized pot and add rice and Sriracha.
2. Saute until rice is coated with oil and hot sauce. 
3. Add beer and lower heat to medium low until 90% of the beer evaporates.
4. Fluff with fork and cover pot for another 10 minutes, until all the beer has been absorbed. 
5. Serve as a side dish to soups, proteins, etc.

*Note: Bottle of beer has enough for one cup plus a shot of beer for the cook!

The Boozy Giveaway! Lewis Bear Company will be shipping out to the winner some beer-inspired t-shirts, hat, and other cool swag. Entry is limited to residents of the US, 18 or older. Contest ends at noon, Eastern time, on Sunday, February 5. To enter:

• Comment on this post and tell me what's your favorite craft beer or favorite way to use beer in your kitchen?
• Head on over to our party host site, 30AEATS and leave a comment there. Come back here and tell me you commented there! 
• Like the Cooking with Books on Facebook Page
• Like the Virtual Potluck Facebook Page

Connect with Lewis Bear Company:
Twitter 
Facebook

Disclaimer: Lewis Bear Company provided the beer to develop this recipe, but as always, my opinions are 100% based on my personal testing.