I have been craving Mexican lately, all week I have been following the trend, last Sunday I made those delicious Chipolte Quinoa stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Wednesday I had a vegetable burrito at the delightful Gabby's in Ellenville, NY, and I have been craving avocados for days! Maybe it is the cumin and chili powder and that lovely heat that burns slowly in your stomach that I am craving or perhaps it is actually just the avocados! I love avocados, they are creamy, salty, delicious perfection while being heart healthy, and loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. I can't say enough about them, the versatility is amazing, mashed, sliced, cubed, eaten straight with a spoon - I will take them anyway I can get them.

Avocados are an essential aspect of an Alkaline diet for they are one of the top 10 alkaline foods and can be used to enhance many a recipe, from smoothies to salad. They are filled with tons of omegas, beta- carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, selenim, and can actually lower cholesterol and help you lose weight. You can see that I am partial to the unique fruit and as I had a few limes sitting in the fridge that needed to be used I decided that tonight would be quac night! Guacamole is one of my favorite ways to showcase avocados, I love using it on toast, chips, crackers, and pretty much just shovel it in with a spoon every chance I get. It always seems to make every dish better. And it is so simple to make!

Although I could add guacamole to any dish, I really wanted to showcase its simplicity by serving it with chips. I mean who doesn't love chips and dip? The salty crunch and the smooth guacamole is a divine combination! I could definitely use potatoes to make my baked chips but I prefer to use turnips as they have more nutritional value and a slightly earthy, sweet taste that seems to pair nicely with the lime and onion used in the guac. I hope that you enjoy!

Baked Turnip Chips

2 Medium to Large Turnips, sliced evenly

2 tbs Olive Oil

1./2 tsp Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Paprika

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a mandolin slice the turnips into thin rounds. Toss the sliced turnips with the olive oil and seasonings. Lay them on a cookie sheet or on a rack placed on a cookie sheet (this allows for even cooking and helps them crisp faster). Once they begin to brown remove them from the oven. Snack away!

Fresh Guacamole

2 Avocados

1 Small Red Onion, chopped

1/2 of a Jalapeno, diced

2 Tomatoes, chopped

Juice of 1 Lime

Handful of fresh Cilantro

1 tsp Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Slice the avocado in half, scooping out the flesh into a bowl, mash depending on how chunky you like it. Stir in the onion, jalapeno, tomatoes, lime, cilantro, and salt. Let sit for 15 minutes for the flavors to meld. Enjoy and Healthy Eating!