So, I decided to try avocado.  Did you know avocados are a fruit?   BG loved avocados when she was a baby.  I thought it was worth a try.

I cut open my perfectly ripe avocado (tasted it first) and he totally opened his mouth AND he didn't make a face.  And then he opened his mouth again for a second helping.  By the time we were done he had almost eaten an entire avocado!  I was ecstatic!

Avocados are perfect because when they're the proper ripeness, they are soft, creamy and tasty.  No preparation required.  You just cut that sucker in half and there's your meal!

Avocados are extremely nutritious.  They are an excellent source of unsaturated fatty acids that kids need for brain development and they're green!

How to pick a ripe avocado
Avocados are ripe when they yield to gentle pressure and are soft all over.  If they are too mushy when picked up they are overripe.  Overripe avocados tend to be bitter.

Here are some ways to test for ripeness.  Gently squeeze the avocado with all five fingers.  If it feels like the flesh is separating from the seed, then it's ripe.  Ripe avocados are dark green versus the standard brownish color.  You can also stick a toothpick in the stem end.  If it moves easily, your avocado is ripe.

If you buy an avocado that is not quite ripe, you should leave it at room temperature to ripen.  Avocados don't ripen in the refrigerator.  Like bananas, you can put them in a brown paper bag to speed up the process.

Until you get the hang of it, I'd buy a couple at a time.  I've had my bad share of avocados.  You don't want to put all your hopes on just one.

Eating your avocado
When ready to eat you cut it open lengthwise so you have two halves (or cups).  You pull out the pit and scoop out the flesh (for lack of a better word) with a spoon. The other half can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.  Be sure to keep the pit in the unused portion.  The exposed flesh will turn brown though.  You can eat the brown part or scrape it off.  Lemon juice can slow the browning process.

You can also eat avocados with a little bit of salt or some sugar (my grandmother ate them with sugar).  Leftover avocado is good for avocado butter.  Just mash it until creamy and butter your favorite bread!

However, as with anything, avocados aren't perfect. 

They have the ability to stain mercilessly.  If you get any bit on your clothes, you best toss them 'cause they're ruined.  The stain turns black and is unyielding.  I always dress in "avocado clothes" for meal times.

AND, Hubby hates avocados!  When he was a kid there were avocado plants in his neighborhood.  In the midst of summer he often ended up riding his bike over rotten, sun-baked avocados.  Their mere existence sends him out of a room.  Sad that both his kids and his wife love them.