Homemade Avocado Dressing

This week I made up this salad dressing this week on a whim and it was so delicious I wanted to share it.  For you Trim Healthy Mamas this is a nice S dressing for your salads.

I forgot to put the NuNaturals sweeteners in the picture (and in the dressing)
Don't forget it, it makes a big difference. :)

1/4 Avocado
2 tsp. EVOO
pinch or 2 of celtic sea salt
fresh ground pepper
fresh lime juice- the juice from about half a lime
1 T. balsamic vinegar
NuNaturals Pure Stevia Extract to taste. ( I used 2 or 3 shakes)

I've made this twice now. The first time I did it in the Magic Bullet and it came out nice and creamy.  Today I did it with a fork and it wasn't nearly as creamy but still tasted good (well would have if I hadn't forgotten the sweetener ...and took it with me while I was on the go so I couldn't add it later).  I will say it isn't the most beautiful dressing once you add the balsamic vinegar, but you could use a white balsamic and I bet it would be gorgeous!

Avocado BLT Salad (vegetarian)

The other night I was watching Forks Over Knives Presents: The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue on Netflix.  Rip Esselstyn prepared a kale salad that I thought was interesting so I had to try it.  From that salad and a recipe for a Vegetarian BLT salad on the Weight Watchers website I created this cross between the two. (I did try the kale salad last night and thought that was good too.)

I started with a base of Romaine and mixed spring greens.  Then I cut up 1/4 of an avocado and used my hands to squish it all into the lettuce so that the leaves are all covered (no need for dressing now!).  I added tomatoes, sliced scallions a squeeze of fresh lemon, salt and pepper and 2 strips of Morningstar Farms veggie bacon.  This is 3 PointsPlus on Weight Watchers.  It was DELICIOUS!

Brown Rice Salad for lunch

My current favorite lunch recipe is a brown rice salad.  If you've been reading my blog you know that I have been on an 11 month long weight loss journey.  I began it on the Flat Belly Diet by Prevention magazine.  In the FBD Pocket Guide there is a "recipe" for brown rice salad.

When my friend, Amanda, told me about this salad I didn't think it sounded very good but decided to try it anyway and I love it.  Over the summer, I fell into a pattern of eating a 400 calorie lunch but it usually consisted of some kind of sandwich, baked potato chips and a Weight Watchers Ice Cream bar.(Dark Chocolate Raspberry!)  Recently, I decided that I should get back to eating some healthier foods for lunch.


The recipe calls for brown rice which I do sometimes use. But currently I buy a brown rice medley at Trader Joe's that is delicious.  I cook it in a rice cooker and then portion it out in half cup portions in Press N Seal and keep it in the freezer. Then I can have rice in 1 minute in the microwave.

So my salad consists of:

1/2 cup brown rice
1/3 cup pinto beans (I use whatever canned beans I have on hand..watch calorie counts, they are not all equal)
1/4 cup avocado
2 T. salsa
2 T. lime juice
1 small tomato, chopped
black pepper to taste

(The original recipe also calls for 2 tsp. olive oil but I leave it out so I can eat an ice cream bar...yes..I know I said I wanted to be healthier but I LOVE them. :) )

(I usually sprinkle with a bit of salt.)

It's so yummy and nutritious.  Give it a try and let me know how you like it.  What is your favorite healthy lunch?