Quesadillas with Avocado, Goat Cheese, and Papaya Salsa
Papaya Salsa
- 1 ripe papaya, peeled, seeded, and diced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 jalapeño chili pepper, minced
- 1 Tbsp minced ginger
- [q:1/4] cup chopped cilantro
- [q:1/8] cup minced red onion
- 2 tsp honey
- [q:1/2] tsp salt
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Quesadillas
- Oil
- 4 corn tortillas
- [q:1/2] cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1 thinly sliced avocado
- Make papaya salsa: gently combine all salsa ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
- Heat a griddle or nonstick pan over medium heat. Brush both sides of 1 of the tortillas with a small amount of oil. Place tortilla in pan.
- Cook tortilla until underside starts to turn golden brown with spots. Add [q:1/4] of the goat cheese, [q:1/4] of the avocado slices, and [q:1/4] of the salsa to center of tortilla. Fold tortilla in half over filling. Carefully flip folded and stuffed tortilla over and cook other side until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Repeat process with remaining tortillas, goat cheese, avocado, and salsa to make remaining 3 quesadillas.
- Cut each quesadilla into 3 triangles. Serve immediately.
Chosen Foods Avocado Oil

Image courtesy of Chosen Foods
The first time I heard that gluten was found in some popular baking sprays, I was shocked. Perhaps I ought not have been. After all, gluten has been known to lurk in some surprising places.
Upon learning this I thought to myself, no more cooking spray for me. It wasn’t worth the possible contamination.
So for years I’ve been greasing my baking pans and cooking vessels with a pastry brush and liquid oil. It was a messy job, and I always ended up using too much or not enough oil. I missed the ease, convenience, and speed a spray provides.
Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil Spray is my latest find, and I am happy to have it as my new kitchen companion. I already sprayed a roasting pan with it, and then proceeded to bake breaded eggplant slices. They browned up beautifully and did not stick to the pan, as they normally would have.
I also tried the spray when prepping a glass baking dish for some salted tahini caramel popcorn bars, and the same thing: no sticking and easy clean up!
The Heat Is On
Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil Spray has a 500° smoke point, so you can safely roast at high temperatures. You can even use the spray on foods before they hit a hot grill.
No chemicals or propellants are used in this product. Instead, air pressure allows the product to deliver an effective coating to your cookware. The spray is also nonGMO and free of glyphosate residue.
The avocado oil in this spray is neutral tasting, so it doesn’t impart a strong or off-putting flavor. In addition to the unflavored variety, Chosen Foods offers avocado spray in the following extract-flavored offerings: Chipotle, Garlic, Italian Herb, Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread, and Simply Cinnamon.
A 6-oz bottle of Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Spray retails for $10.99.
Quinoa Bowls with Avocado Dressing
Quinoa Bowls
- 2 large unpeeled sweet potatoes
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 cup quinoa
- 4 cups packed baby spinach, sliced
Avocado Dressing
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
- [q:1/4] cup lime juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- [q:1/4] cup water
- Salt
- Preheat oven to 400˚.
- Chop sweet potatoes into 1-inch pieces. Toss with oil, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Prepare quinoa according to package directions, adding paprika and chili powder to quinoa and its required amount of cooking water. When quinoa has absorbed all cooking water, stir in sliced spinach, and remove quinoa-spinach mixture from heat.
- Meanwhile make avocado dressing. In a high-speed blender or food processor, purée avocado, lime juice, garlic, and the water. Season to taste with salt.
- Divide quinoa-spinach mixture between two serving bowls. Top with roasted sweet potatoes and drizzle with avocado dressing.
Raspberry Avocado Sorbet with Vanilla Beans
- 1 medium avocado, peeled and pitted
- [q:2 1/2] pints fresh raspberries
- Juice of 1 lime
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 Simply Organic Madagascar Vanilla Bean, scraped
- [q:1/4] cup dark chocolate chips
- Properly chill your ice cream or sorbet churning bowl in the freezer over night. (If you don't have an ice cream maker, see notes below).
- In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine avocado, raspberries, lime juice, honey and vanilla bean. Blend on high until smooth and creamy.
- Pour mixture into chilled ice cream maker and freeze for about 10 minutes. Stir in dark chocolate chips, then continue freezing according to the ice cream maker manufacturer's instructions. Serve or store in freezer.
Thai Coconut Soup with Corn and Avocado
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 shallots, minced
- 3 lemongrass stalks, coarsely chopped
- 2 red bird’s eye chilis (remove seeds for less heat)
- 1 cup cilantro, plus additional [q:1/4] cup for garnish
- 1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk
- 3 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
- 2 Tbsp Thai fish sauce
- 2 cups corn
- 2 limes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced
- Place garlic, shallots, lemongrass, chilis, and cilantro into the bowl of a food processor. Add a splash of water and blend to a fine paste. Add mixture to a soup pot with another splash of water. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until soft.
- Add coconut milk, stock, and fish sauce to pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Pour through a fine metal strainer, pressing paste to extract as much flavor as possible.
- Return liquid to pot and bring to a simmer. Add corn and cook for 10 minutes. Squeeze juice from limes and add to soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with avocado and remaining [q:1/4] cup of cilantro. Serve.
Roasted Red Pepper Eggs Benedict
- 2 Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Flax English Muffins
- 4 eggs (or 4 pan-seared extra firm tofu slices)
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- 2 cups spinach, chopped
- 1 tsp olive oil
- [q:1/2] tsp sea salt
- [q:1/2] tsp pepper
- Fresh chives to garnish
Roasted Red Pepper Greek Yogurt Hollandaise
- 2 egg yolks or silken tofu
- [q:1/3] tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- [q:1/2] cup Greek yogurt
- [q:1/3] cup roasted red peppers, jarred
- [q:1/2] tsp sea salt
Roasted Red Pepper Hollandaise
- Using a blender or food processor, blend together 2 egg yolks or 3 oz silken tofu, [q:1/3] tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, [q:1/3] cup Greek yogurt, and [q:1/3] cup roasted red peppers. Blend until smooth, then season with [q:1/2] tsp sea salt.
- Set aside until it's time to plate.
Veggie Benedict
- Toast two halves of an Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Flax English Muffins. Set on plate. Top with avocado slices.
- Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil in a sauté pan over low heat and add 2 cups chopped spinach, just cooking through lightly until wilted. Season with [q:1/2] tsp salt and [q:1/2] tsp pepper and add to each half of the toasted English muffin, atop the avocado.
- Bring a pot filled with water to a gentle boil.
- Crack eggs into a separate container.
- Using a spoon, swirl water in a circular motion to create a tornado.
- Once the tornado is spinning, gently add the 1 egg to the middle so the white swirls around the center and it comes together as it cooks.
- Cook for [q:2 1/2] to 3 minutes. Scoop out the poached egg with a slotted spoon.
- Add eggs or tofu slices to English muffins. Spoon over roasted red pepper hollandaise. Top with chives.
- Enjoy right away. This recipe makes 4 benedicts.
Baked Jackfruit Avocado Taquitos
- 8 Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortillas
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 can of jackfruit in water or brine
- 1 medium avocado
- [q:1/2] cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- [q:1/2] tsp onion powder
- [q:1/4] tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- [q:1/2] tsp pepper
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mash 1 medium avocado, 1 tsp salt, [q:1/2] tsp pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, [q:1/2] tsp onion powder, [q:1/4] tsp cumin, 1 tsp lime juice, and [q:1/2] cup chopped cilantro into a chunky spread.
- Rinse and drain the can of jackfruit. Chop or shred the pieces of jackfruit into bite-sized pieces, like the texture of shredded chicken, with a fork. Thoroughly dry the jackfruit before moving on to the next step.
- Stir in the jackfruit until the mixture is well combined, adding more seasoning to taste.
- Warm your tortillas gently in the microwave with a damp paper towel a few at a time to keep them pliable when working with them.
- On a baking sheet lined with foil, place a generous spoonful of the mixture onto the tortilla (a bit lower than the center), then roll up as tightly as possible and place the seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas and jackfruit avocado mixture.
- If the tortillas aren't as pliable as you need, wrap them in foil before placing them on the baking sheet to ensure they will hold their shape as they bake.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Serve with salsa verde. Enjoy!
Beet Tea Sandwiches with Dilly Tofu Cream Cheese
Beet Sandwiches
- 10 slices Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Flax Bread
- [q:1/2] Cucumber, sliced thinly with a mandolin
- 1 cup Cooked beets, mashed
- 1 Avocado
Dilly Tofu Cream Cheese
- 1 block Extra-firm tofu, pressed
- [q:1/2] cup Cashews
- [q:1/3] cup Fresh dill
- 2 Tbsp Lemon juice and zest
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- 1 tsp Salt
- [q:1/2] tspPepper
-
Dilly Tofu Cream Cheese
- Using a food processor, combine the tofu, cashew, non-dairy milk, lemon juice, zest, salt, pepper, and pulse until smooth and creamy. Add in the dill and pulse until just mixed through.
- Add the dilly tofu cream cheese to a large bowl and refrigerate until time to assemble, setting aside [q:1/4] cup to make the beet spread.
-
The Sandwich
- Using the same food processor, scoop in [q:1/4] cup of dilly tofu cream cheese and the 1 cup cooked beets. Blend until combined.
- Toast both slices of bread. Spread one side with the dilly tofu cream cheese and the other side with the beet spread. Layer on the avocado slices, and slices of cucumber.
- Top with the other slice of toasted bread. Using a large heart shaped cookie cutter or a knife, cut out the sandwich into a heart shape. Save the scraps for snacking, and serve!
Chipotle Avocado Arugula Melt
- 2 slices Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Sesame Bread
- [q:1/2] avocado, sliced
- [q:1/4] cup arugula
- 4 thin slices vegan Gouda cheese
- 2 tbs vegan mayo
- 1 tsp adobo sauce from chipotles in adobo
- [q:1/8] cup red onion, sliced thinly
- 2 tbs plant-based butter
- [q:1/4] tsp sea salt
- [q:1/4] tsp black pepper
For the Chipotle Mayo
- Grab a small mixing bowl and whisk together 2 tbs vegan mayo and 1 tsp of adobo sauce from chipotles in adobo.
- Season with [q:1/4] tsp salt and [q:1/4] tsp pepper and refrigerate until it is time to make the sandwich.
For the Melt
- Heat a large pan over medium heat.
- Spread the outside of each slice of Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Sesame Bread with 1 tbs plant-based butter then place butter-sides down in the pan.
- Add 2 slices of gouda to each piece of bread 4 total, as well as half of a sliced avocado.
- Once cheese is melty and bread is golden brown, add [q:1/8] cup sliced red onion, [q:1/4] cup arugula, and a drizzle of chipotle mayo to one side of the bread, then top with the other toasted piece. Press down on the sandwich using a spatula and flip over to toast for an additional 30 seconds.
- Take off heat, slice in half, then serve.
Chilled Avocado and Cucumber Soup
- [q:1 1/2] cups plain kefir
- 2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and sliced
- 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and chopped
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- Salt to taste
- In a high-speed blender, combine all ingredients. Blend on High until smooth and creamy.
- Chill soup in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Serve chilled.