Californians are obsessed with avocados. We put them in smoothies, we eat guacamole by the bowl full and are even willing to pay insane prices for avocado toast at hipster cafes. I too am fond of the green goodness; avocados have a smooth texture, and are healthy and vitamin rich fruit. In my opinion you can’t go wrong incorporating more of them into your diet. So, why not think outside of the box?

Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookies (3 dozen tablespoon sized cookies)
Ingredients:
• ¾ cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2/3 cup raw or pure cane sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• ½ cup smashed ripe avocado
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all purpose flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 8 ounces chocolate chips
o A mix of bittersweet and semisweet is delicious and adds complexity to the flavor
• Flaky sea salt for garnishing

Directions:

Stage 1: Preheat your oven to 360 degrees, and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. (If you have a cookie scoop it is recommended to use it for uniformity and ease of scooping. If not two teaspoons will also get the job done.)

Stage 2: Sift together dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, kosher salt, cinnamon) and set aside.

Stage 3: Using a hand mixer or paddle mixer, cream together the butter and avocado until smooth (about 3 minutes at a medium speed). Add in the sugars, and blend until incorporated. Add in eggs and vanilla and blend until smooth.

Stage 4: Add half the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, and mix at a low speed until incorporated. Add in the rest of the flour mixture and mix. Add in chocolate and stir with a rubber spatula until just incorporated.

Stage 5: Scoop out cookies onto a lined cookie sheet keeping them about 2 inches apart. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake for 10-13 minutes. Watch them closely, as they are best when just brown on the edges and still slightly soft in the middle.

Avocado Yogurt Herb Dip

Ingredients:
• 1 ½ cup Greek or Skyr yogurt
• 1 avocado smashed
• 1 glove garlic, grated
• 1 ½ teaspoons fresh dill
• 1 ½ teaspoons fresh parsley
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

Stage 1: Smash your avocado and place into a food processor or blender.

Stage 2: Pour in lemon juice, and add all other ingredients. Blend/mix until smooth.

Stage 3: Serve with toasted baguette or pita drizzled with olive oil, and some sliced crudités.