If cooking up a traditional Irish meal isn't how you want to spend your St. Patrick's Day, why not make something that's the holiday's official color? Green! It's also the color of Spring, so many of these delicious dishes use the season's outstanding produce. Here are 10 awesome recipes for you to enjoy now.
When I had some friends over to try Bobby Flay's award-winning burger, there was only one thing I thought to pair the burgers with: fries. Not just any fries, but seasonal sweet potato fries. The burger is called the Santa Fe, so I was hoping for Tex-Mex inspired fries. Luckily, I found this recipe for baked sweet potato fries with a creamy and cooling avocado dip.
The pairing of slightly spicy sweet potatoes with a luscious green dipping sauce is absolutely sublime. Although I followed the recipe closely and I really enjoyed the flavor, my sweet potatoes weren't as crispy as I wanted them to be. Do you have tips for making them crisp? Please share with me in the comments. For the recipe, which doesn't disappoint, read on.
After making a simple yet delicious roast chicken, I had a ton of leftovers. Rather than just eat chicken salad for a couple days, I perused my cookbooks for something new to try. While looking through Tyler Florence's Eat This Book: Cooking With Global Fresh Flavors, I found the perfect recipe for a spicy chicken broth. It's served over cooked shredded chicken and accompanied by sliced avocado, just-fried tortillas, and cilantro. The broth is pretty spicy, so if you need to cut the heat, add a dollop of sour cream or crème fraiche. This exceptionally fresh-flavored soup is easy to throw together for a cool Autumn night. Ready to heat up your kitchen? Keep reading for the recipe.
Recently I came across a really interesting Rick Bayless recipe for bacon guacamole. At first I thought, that can't be right. Rick Bayless doesn't really seem like an everything-tastes-better-with-bacon sort of guy. However, there it was in my inbox: bacon guacamole by Rick Bayless. I was skeptical as to whether or not it would work, but considering that I love both bacon and guacamole, I decided to give it a try. And guess what? It totally works!
It's actually ingenious — an addictive and amazingly scrumptious dip. It's a good thing I made it for guests because had I been alone in my apartment, I would have shoveled the entire bowl down my throat in a matter of minutes. The smokiness of the bacon is enhanced by the addition of chipotle chiles in adobo. With juicy tomato, creamy guacamole, and crunchy bacon, each bite is a taste explosion! It's perfect for tailgating season, so get the recipe now.
This Summer my father and I have been incredibly adventurous when grilling. While we love classics like grilled chicken and grilled pork, we also enjoy experimenting with grilled pizzas and grilled cheese. Bacon, avocado, corn — you name it and we are tossing it on the grill. How about you? Are you unconventional when it comes to grilling?
YumSugar Community member skigurl wanted to make guacamole, and wrote in to ask us a burning question about it: "What do I do if I need to make guacamole today, but all the avocados in the store are hard?" I reached out to the California Avocado Commission to find the answer. "The majority of stores carry avocados that are ripe and ready to eat today or tomorrow," Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing explained. "Many consumers purchase enough avocados for weekly consumption, so they always have some ready to use." 
She suggests shopping at stores that have ripe avocado programs for immediate use, or, if you have a few days to spare, placing avocados in a bag with an apple or a banana at room temperature to expedite ripening. (Apples and bananas emit a ripening agent called ethylene gas.) Conversely, ripe avocados can be kept in the refrigerator for a day or two to slow down the maturation process. If all else fails, take a tip from mokba43, who recommends using a potato ricer to create fluffy, small grains. What's your advice?
Looking for clarification on something culinary? Join the Burning Question group in the YumSugar Community, and ask us your biggest questions.
Avocados are a natural pairing with black beans, but the creamy healthy fruit also goes well with white beans. This recipe highlights the two ingredients by combining them into a mashed filling for a flavorful wrap. The wrap is seasoned with a simple cider and spicy chipotle chiles in adobo vinaigrette. It's the perfect on-the-go vegetarian meal. Since there's no mayonnaise, the vegetable-stuffed wrap is also great for picnics. Want the recipe? Get it now.
Reader Brisas uploaded this photo of a baby chard, arugula, kohlrabi microgreens, avocado, and blackberry salad to the Savory Sights group in the YumSugar Community. It's dressed with a simple vinaigrette. Do you have an image of something delicious that you recently made or enjoyed? Upload it to the YumSugar Community and it may be featured here!
Avocados aren't just for guacamole; they also pair well in sandwiches, popsicles, and tons of other recipes. But it wasn't until I attended a dinner hosted by the California Avocado Commission at the Michelin-starred One Market restaurant that I discovered there are a multitude of ways to serve the creamy green fruit that I couldn't have even imagined.
See what I'm talking about when you read on.
Last weekend I had one of those culinary "why didn't I think of that?" moments. My dad and I hosted a barbecue and my cousin's contribution was salsa. But not just any old salsa, a perfectly balanced crunchy and creamy pineapple salsa! While pineapple is common in salads, I couldn't believe I had never tried it in salsa with salty chips on the side. It was absolutely fabulous and everyone could not get enough, myself included. Since the salsa is chunky and on the heavier side, it's important to serve it with thick, hard chips. Pair with margaritas and you've got a Cinco de Mayo party in the making! Get the easy recipe now.
