Axocado lovers - yummy potatoes & pita

[Yip]

For lunch today I had a pita stuffed with avocado, thin Fuji apple slices, pepper jack cheese, and sprouts. OMGosh, this might be my favorite sandwich!

I found this just playing with my food the other day.

Take a steamed or baked potato, split in half, smash, or cut in cubes. Mix in a little butter, then spread a dollop of lite French onion dip (I like it better than sour cream) on top, then lots of small cubes of avocado on top of that. Then crack some fresh black pepper over the top. I didn't need salt because it was in the dip. YUMMMMM!

Tonight I did the same thing with a steamed sweet potato and it was fantastic!

You can use freshly baked potatoes, done any way you choose. I often steam 4 potatoes and 2 sweet potatoes together in a basket steamer in a pot on the stove. I cook 3 meals worth of potatoes at once that way and refrigerate for later.. I also make extra rice or pastas and refrigerate the excess (toss pasta in a little olive oil first) then refrigerate for use later in the week. It's super fast and easy to throw together a nice main course when the starch is already cooked and waiting.

[Chrisnstar]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[MJ]

That sounds good. I've never steamed potatoes, how exactly do you do that?

[Yip]

MJ, I get my big 4 qt. pot if I want to do a bunch. A dutch oven would work - or a 1.5-2 qt. for a smaller number.

The trick is you have to buy a steamer baset to keep the potatoes out of the water at the bottom of the pan. They come in 2 sizes that I know of, and I bought both of mine at Wally's or some elcheapo store. They cost aboiut $4-5. It looks like a metal flower bud with a zillion holes in it and little feet on the bottom. It comes all closed up, but then it unfolds to fill up the pan.

ANYWAY, set the steamer basket in the pot. Fill with water just till you can see it through the bottom holes. Wash potatoes and set them in the steamer. Cover. Boil water then you can turn it down, but keep it at least simmering so there is steam formed.

Sweet potatoes will steam through before the water runs out, but you might have to replace the water before reg. potatoes are cooked. Stick a meat fork through to see when they're done. Sweet potatoes take about 1/2 the time to steam as reg. potatoes. When done, take out and let cool, then refrigerate till needed.

OR use a steamer inside a crock pot and do it that way while you.re at work. Then you don't have to worry about the pot running dry.

This steaming makes sweet potatoes sooo soft and moist - just like at restarurants.

[Deleted]

Oh, yeah, those sound GOOD. (I love avocado... think people who don't must have a screw loose... )

Here's a couple of my favorites: For a sandwich, try sliced *real* cheddar cheese (not those plastic things that are prewrapped), mustard on the bread, then sliced avocado layers on, some thinly sliced onion and good lettuce (not iceberg).

And... pasta, with a sauce of garlic sauteed in butter/marg and oregano, toss with the pasta, add chunks of avocado and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

[Newfygirl]

Real cheese is a must. Not the rubbery stuff. Ick. (although it does make a good grilled cheese). I think I'm going to try your sandwich, T.

[Yip]

t-leigh, those sound wonderful! I can do the sandwich soon but the pasta has to wait till after Easter.

Heck, I shouldn't be eating any bread either, but I'm only eating the pitas I slaved and sacrificed over, hehe! They're great, but they were time consuming.