AVOCADOS SCORE BIG AT
GAME DAY GET-TOGETHERS

Whether you are planning a big blowout for Super Bowl Sunday or just an afternoon watching your favorite college or pro sport on television with a few friends, make the food you serve as exciting as the game you watch. In fact, the food may be even more interesting!
Nothing beats hot dogs or burgers—or both—at a game day get-together. But just because these handheld favorites are always a hit doesn’t mean you have to settle for ho-hum hot dogs and basic burgers as party fare.

Super Dogs with Avocado Relish give ordinary hot dogs a reason to bark and a unique touch everyone will love. Forget regular pickle relish. This easy, homemade relish is Mexican to the max and there couldn’t be a better time to serve it, because authentic Hass avocados from Mexico are available right now. Hass avocados have pebbly skin that turns from dark green to almost black when ripe, and many chefs believe these from Mexico are the finest.

You may be surprised to learn that all-American hamburgers have made their way to Mexico, where folks typically top their hamburguesas with sliced avocado–an appealing idea, north or south of the border. Burgers with All-in-One Avocado Topping take popular hamburger condiments—onions, tomatoes and cheese—and combine them with luscious Mexican Hass avocados in a chunky spread with just a little Mexican-style zing. The topping can be prepared ahead of time; simply cover with plastic wrap, pressing gently on the mixture, and refrigerate.

Choose a ripe avocado by gently pressing the broader end with your thumb. If it yields slightly, it’s ripe. Firm avocados will ripen in a day or two on a kitchen counter—to speed up the process, store avocados in a closed paper bag.

SUPER DOGS WITH AVOCADO RELISH

1 ripe Mexican Hass avocado (about 8 ounces)
3/4 cup chopped sweet red bell pepper
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
8 hot dogs, knockwurst, or other fully cooked sausage
8 hot dog buns
1/2 cup brown mustard

To prepare Avocado Relish: Cut avocado lengthwise around the pit; twist halves to separate; strike pit with a knife blade and pull to remove; gently scoop out flesh with a spoon. Dice avocado (makes about 1 cup). In a small bowl, combine bell pepper, onion, vinegar, sugar, salt and ground red pepper; gently stir in avocado. Meanwhile, preheat a countertop or charcoal grill; cook hot dogs until hot and lightly browned, about 5 minutes (alternatively, cook over medium heat in a large skillet, turning once). Spread cut sides of buns with mustard. Place hot dogs in buns; spoon Avocado Relish on top. Serve with tortilla chips, if desired.

YIELD: 8 servings

Photo # MA-14

[caption]
Super dogs with avocado relish are perfect for Super Bowl or any other game day.

Photo #: MA-14
Please credit Avocados From Mexico

BURGERS WITH ALL-IN-ONE AVOCADO TOPPING

1 ripe Mexican Hass avocado (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup quartered grape or cherry tomatoes or diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1 pound ground beef
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 hamburger buns
4 leaves lettuce

To prepare Avocado Topping: Cut avocado lengthwise around the pit; twist halves to separate; strike pit with a knife blade and pull to remove; gently scoop out flesh with a spoon; transfer to a small bowl. Lightly mash avocado; stir in tomatoes, onion, cheese and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt; set aside. Gently shape beef into 4 patties; sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and the pepper. In a large skillet, over medium heat, heat oil until hot. Cook beef patties to desire doneness, about 10 minutes, turning once. Spread Avocado Topping on cut sides of buns. Place burgers and lettuce between bun halves.

YIELD: 4 servings (about 1-3/4 cups topping)

##

GAME DAY PARTY PLAN

The key to casual game day get-togethers is to serve fun, delicious food that everyone enjoys, keep food prep and clean-up to a minimum and let guests help themselves.

Sideline Assistance: Don’t let kitchen duty sideline the host. Serve the food buffet style. Use crockpots to keep chili, soup or nacho cheese dip warm. Guests might even cook their own hot dogs or hamburgers on a countertop or outdoor grill. Have platters of cold food set out on coffee and end tables in front of the TV.

Guacamole Cups: Let party guests have their own generous portions of guacamole. Set aside the shells while seasoning Hass avocados—the ones from Mexico are in season now—with chopped onion, lime juice, salt and hot pepper sauce. Scoop the prepared guacamole back into shells, placing one half-shell on each plate along with tortilla chips. This is a good way to avoid dreaded “double dipping” by guests who take a bite out of a chip, then dunk it back into the communal dip bowl.

Multi-Media Mania: If you don’t have a big-screen TV, set up multiple TVs around the room, if possible, so everyone can view the game. And it’s not enough just to watch the game anymore. Die-hard fans will want computer access, too, to log on to sports sites, participate in chat rooms and get up-to-the-minute analysis.

# #

FREE RECIPE LEAFLET

Make It Mexican!
Easy ways to enjoy luscious Mexican avocados

Avocado-Mango Salsa Salad and Pasta Mexican Style are just two of the easy, delicious recipes in a new leaflet called “Make It Mexican: Easy Ways to Enjoy Luscious Mexican Avocados.” This colorful six-panel leaflet features five recipes for Mexican Hass avocados, plus information on selecting, ripening and using avocados and nutrition information on this healthful fruit. To get your free copy of “Make It Mexican,” just send a stamped, self-addressed, business-sized envelope to:

Mexican Avocado Leaflet
c/o Lewis & Neale Inc.
35 East 21st Street
10th Floor
New York, NY 10010