Camping and Alligator Pears: Fresh Lime Guacamole

The last couple of Fridays have consisted of packing up and taking off to a camp-site or cottage. I will have you know, this does tend to be a bit more difficult for the gluten-free vegans out there. We take more preparation than your average camper. How easy- and not to mention, cheap- it would be to be able to toss hotdogs, burgers, chips, marshmallows and a fishing line into a backpack and be survival-ready. I always think I've remembered everything. That is, until it is day-3 and I have discovered I have eaten the exact same meal, with slight variation, every single time we've cooked. A girl can really only take so much re-hydrated hummus and tofu.

One thing that's great to pack to add variety on such adventures is avocado- also known as the alligator pear for its shape and texture of the outer skin. They're one of the most nutritious little savoury fruits out there. Some people (you know who you are) avoid these delicious morsels because of their fat content. People are always falsely grouping all fats into the "bad fats" category, but avocados are one of those magical things, like coconut oil, which are actually beneficial to digestion and very high in protein, vitamins and fibre.

Here is a simple guacamole recipe to enjoy. If anyone out there is allergic to corn, the closest thing I have found to a tortilla chip is a bean chip (pictured above). They're a bit expensive but can be found in specialty stores or organic sections of the grocery store, and definitely worth it if you miss corn chips as much as I do.

Fresh Lime Guacamole   

Ingredients

2 ripe avocados (soft to press)
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 clove crushed garlic
1 tbsp finely chopped red onion
1 tbsp finely chopped red pepper
1 tsp pepper
pinch of coarse-ground sea salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions

Slice avocados length-wise around the core, turning the fruit in your hand as you slice (you will not be able to slice through the very centre). When you have sliced all around, twist the pieces in opposite directions to split them apart. Using a spoon, scoop the inside out of the skin and remove the core.

Place avocado in a bowl and mash with lime juice using a fork. Add all other ingredients and mix together until smooth consistency. Serve immediately with tortilla/bean chips, crackers or veggies as a dip or spread.