Smashed Avocado Bites with Pancetta & Spicy Olive Oil + GIVEAWAY

Hi Friends!

How was your week?  What did you do?  Are you as excited as me that it’s Friday?!

Because I for one am STOKED that it’s the freakin’ weekend, R-Kelly style.

First, we’ve got this delicious little appetizer that’s all sorts of Spring-y and all sorts of easy and 100% gotta have it.  And then we have a giveaway!!! because free stuff is a universal pleasure.

Let’s do this!

One of the things I love about blogging is getting to make internet friends with peeps who understand that biting your own finger from eating too fast is completely normal.  Among them are Katie from Healthy Seasonal Recipes, who was cool enough to put together this amaaazing multi-blogger giveaway that I totally wish I could enter myself.  It’s one mega major Spring Entertaining PALOOZA, and I’m beyond thrilled I finally have a legit reason to use that word.

Here’s what we’re looking at:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I KNOW.  Could you die?  Everything you need for successful Spring Entertaining, all free and delivered right to your doorstep! So follow the steps above and get entered – Al fresco dining is calling your name!

So now that I just crushed your Friday with some faboosh freebies, let’s get to the food.

Apparently I’m in a let’s-put-green-stuff-on-bread kinda phase, but grass is green and Spring is here! and I’m just being seasonal, okay?  Because one bite of these little delights and you will get that this baby wins.  Wins at Friday.  Wins at life.  Wins at being the Spring-iest Spring appetizer in all of America because hello!  Doesn’t it look like a flower is sprouting under a bed of avocado & pancetta?  I tots planned that.

In a world where you’re getting married in six months, have a full-time job, do this blogging thing, may or may not drink too much, and cry yourself to sleep looking at wheels of brie on Pinterest, easy recipes become a necessity.  So I made sure that this Spring Entertaining nosh was ridiculously simple, yet still brought fabulous presentation.

I have to pat myself on the back and say I cooked this pancetta so perfectly, it almost looks like ahi tuna, right?  The secret is cooking it sloowly, allowing it to get crisp, pink, and juicy.  The smashed avocado is what it is – A little bit chunky, a little bit smooth, dashed with lemon juice, and seasoned with a sprinkling of black pepper.  And to bring it all together?  That spicy EVOO, which gives just enough heat to make this baby POP.  Like, I had barely put down my camera before Dave inhaled six of these.  Six!  I think he actually snarled when I started eating some for myself.

But I guess I can’t blame him, really.  They are bite-size (and dangerous) for a reason.

And last but not least!  Share the love and go check out all the other chill bloggers making this giveaway a partaaaay 😉

Healthy Seasonal Recipes * Adventures in Cooking * Southern Boy Dishes

Shared Appetite * Yankee Kitchen Ninja * Mountain Mama Cooks

Nutmeg Nanny * A Brown Table * The Lemon Bowl * Bakeaholic Mama

Smashed Avocado Bites with Pancetta & Spicy Olive Oil

Ingredients:

  • 24 Round Crackers {any kind}
  • 2 Medium Avocados
  • 6 oz Cubed Pancetta (I used Citterio)
  • 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsps Lemon Juice
  • 2 tbsps Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 tsp Coarse Black Peppercorn – approx.
  • Oregano to garnish
  • Cooking Spray to grease

Directions:

  1. In lightly greased skillet brown pancetta over medium heat until just beginning to crisp, ~10 minutes.  Remove from flame and transfer to paper towel lined bowl to cool.
  2. While pancetta cooks, in food processor combine avocados and lemon juice, pulsing several times into a half smooth/half chunky spread.  Set aside.
  3. In small bowl combine EVOO and red pepper flakes.  Microwave for 30 seconds, then whisk vigorously until an orange-colored oil is achieved.  Drain of red pepper flakes, then set aside.
  4. When ready to assemble, coat each cracker with a thick layer of avocado, then sprinkle with black pepper.  Lastly top each bite with pancetta, then drizzle with spicy EVOO and garnish with oregano.  Immediately plate and serve.

>> 2 bites = 1 serving

so in love with this.