Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Shaved Asparagus & Avocado Salad + Cookbook Giveaway!
I have professed my love for the Flavor Bible many times on this here blog o’ mine. I’ve even given it away to a few of you. Did you know that last fall Karen Page released a new version? Yep, The Vegetarian Flavor Bible and guys, it’s just as good as the original. It is where I got the idea for the simple deliciousness that is this Shaved Asparagus & Avocado Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette.
Guys, I’m super excited because, not only am I sharing this super easy and scrumptious salad, but today I have also teamed up with Jen from Savory Simple, Gerry from Foodness Gracious, Jackie from The Beeroness, Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food, Marnely from Cooking with Books, Carrie from Bakeaholic Mama, Nik from A Brown Table, Kim from Cravings of a Lunatic, and Valerie from Une Gamine Dans La Cuisine to bring you our favorite cookbooks. That means that one lucky winner is going to get…wait for it…TWELVE new additions to their cookbook collection. Pretty awesome huh?
Just look at the fantastic books you’ll be getting if you win:
I decided to pick the Vegetarian Flavor Bible as the one to give away because, as much as I didn’t think it was possible because I am a carnivore, I love this version just as much as the Flavor Bible. There are different grains and vegetables that aren’t in the first book. It also has more nutritional breakdown for the ingredients. It is a truly gorgeous addition to any kitchen cookbook collection. It has become just as inspiring in my kitchen as the original Flavor Bible and totally makes me want to eat more veggies.
It is what I used to develop this Shaved Asparagus & Avocado Salad.
After a trip to Costco last week I had an abundance of asparagus and avocado and I was wondering if I could possibly put them in a dish together. Obviously, I consulted the Vegetarian Flavor Bible to see what I could do and lo and behold, according to the book and the little bold print, they pair well together. According to the book, lemon and basil are also great compliments for both asparagus and avocado.
That was all I needed to know to get the creative juice flowing to create this simple beautiful salad.The avocado is creamy, the asparagus crunchy and the lemon basil vinaigrette is bright and citrusy. It’s like spring in a bowl.
And I know it’s not Irish. Like at all. But hey it’s green! So count this Asparagus & Avocado Salad as my contribution to St. Paddy’s Day :)
Just leave me a comment below telling me your favorite cookbook and then use the rafflecopter widget to record that you commented. Once you’ve done that you can unlock opportunities for bonus entries! Good luck!
Giveaway Info:
One winner will win all 12 cookbooks.
The giveaway will run from 3/16/15 at 12AM EST to 3/23/15 at 12AM EST.
The giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents.
Shaved Asparagus & Avocado Salad + Cookbook Giveaway!
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 basil leaves torn or chiffonade
- 15 asparagus spears tough ends trimmed
- 1 avocado diced
Instructions
- Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt and basil. Set aside.
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave the asparagus. When it gets to thin to shave, chop. Repeat with remaining asparagus spears.
- Place asparagus and avocado in a bowl. Whisk dressing once more, pour over salad. Toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Guest
March 23, 2015 at 7:22 pmthe science of good cooking
Elaine W
March 22, 2015 at 4:27 pmI love Tyler Florence’s Real Kitchen.
Candi Harmon Kruse
March 21, 2015 at 12:11 pmI love Fast Easy Fresh by Bon Appetit.
katklaw777
March 20, 2015 at 5:00 amMy favorite cookbook is my 50yr old Pope Cookbook that my Mom gave to me.
It has all the basics and since she has passed it is a treasured memento of our cooking time together.
Fionna Brines
March 19, 2015 at 5:55 pmMy Favorite Cook book is ‘Chicken Breast Enhancements; Lifting Chicken breasts to new heights!’
Willie Battle
March 19, 2015 at 9:08 amThe Best Recipes in the World By Mark Bittman
Gina F
March 18, 2015 at 6:12 pmMine is Barefoot contessa cookbooks!! Thanks…Gina F
Sue Clark
March 18, 2015 at 1:41 pmMy favorite cookbooks are “Southern Living” and Barefoot Contessa’s books! Would love to add these to my cookbook collection.
Imane Daher
March 18, 2015 at 12:44 pmOne of my favorite cookbook is Bouchon Bakery. I wish I’ll win it. Good Luck to all
Patrina Mitchen
March 18, 2015 at 11:51 amMy favorite cookbook is ATK Family Baking Book
cjfrugal
March 18, 2015 at 11:13 amslow cooker revolution
Teresa Sulyok
March 18, 2015 at 10:38 amthe splendid table, my bread, and any Martha stewart.
Cindy Battle
March 18, 2015 at 9:48 amI have several favorites, my newest favorite is Gooseberry Patch 101 Cupcake, Cookie, & Brownie.
Tina V
March 18, 2015 at 8:08 amI can’t wait to try your Shaved Asparagus/Avocado salad. We have so many avocados falling off the trees right now. I’m always looking for new ideas. Love your recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Liz
March 18, 2015 at 7:26 amI love the book “How to Cook Everything”
Cindy F
March 18, 2015 at 7:11 amThe New Best Recipe sounds amazing, but they all sound wonderful! What a wonderful combination…..asparagus and avocado! How could you go wrong! Can’t wait to try!
Shirley Eng
March 18, 2015 at 6:56 amMy fave is PASTA, EVERY WAY FOR EVERY DAY by Eric Treuille. Love the look of all these cookbooks!
Trish
March 18, 2015 at 6:45 amI need to add my love for all Cooks Illustrated cookbooks.
Dhomnull
March 18, 2015 at 5:55 amLove the recipe and I have always been a fan of the Cooks Illustrated cook book
Deeli
March 18, 2015 at 5:39 amWhat a light, refreshing and healthy salad, Des!! I would be in heaven if received the entire cookbook collection but especially the Cooks Illustrated Cookbook!!!
Jae
March 18, 2015 at 5:25 amI can love all of by cookbooks, but I do have one geared towards middle eastern/ Mediterranean salads that I adore.
This is seriously the best giveaway I have come across =)
Janice
March 18, 2015 at 4:39 amI love all the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks particularly Family Style
Denise
March 18, 2015 at 4:10 amI have a Betty crocker cookbook I received when I got married and still refer to it for gravies and sauces etc.
leah g
March 18, 2015 at 12:53 amWe have asparagus a lot in my house, but usually roasted. I will definitely have to try this soon!
My favorite cookbook is my old school family cookbook that is falling apart and has a million unreadable notes. An actual buy-able book I love is “Homemade Mexican” I have found it pretty useful through the years.
Melody Gonser
March 18, 2015 at 12:15 amWhat a fantastic giveaway. Thank you. My favorite cookbook ha been “Better Homes and Garden”. I received it for my fifteenth birthday and it taught me a lot and it has great recipes.
Leslie
March 17, 2015 at 11:04 pmLeslie:
My favorite cookbook is one put together by the church ladies at the church where I grew up in the 70’s.
Devon S.
March 17, 2015 at 2:44 pmDon’t really have a favorite cookbook. I mainly just surf the web for anything that looks good.
Recently diagnosed with a few autoimmune inflammatory diseases, I’m looking for recipes to cut down on fats, salt, gluten and casein, so that leaves me with a LOAD of dairy- and grain- free recipes to try.
I have to say, this combination looks and sounds AMAZING. Two of my very favorite foods combined. Must try. WILL try.
Amy L
March 17, 2015 at 6:18 amThe Joy of Cooking is my favorite and has been my go-to cookbook for over 30 years.
The Girls on Bloor
March 17, 2015 at 6:18 amWe have NEVER thought of shaving asparagus or pairing it with avocado! Definitely going to have to try out this flavour combo!!
Robyn
March 16, 2015 at 10:33 pmAmerica’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook is one of our go-tos. We’ve made so many recipes and none have steered us wrong.
Melissa
March 16, 2015 at 10:24 pmI love all of the Barefoot Contessa’s cookbooks… I envy her
Miryam Quinn Doblas
March 16, 2015 at 6:10 pmThis looks terrific. I would have this salad on demand. I need to start making more salads!
Lady Gourmet
March 16, 2015 at 5:22 pmThis is a marvelous salad that I know my family would love! Thank you for hosting this giveaway too. xo, Catherine
Joy Love Food
March 16, 2015 at 4:23 pmThis salad is so green and gorgeous, perfect for spring! I am loving Marcus Samuelsson’s latest cookbook, What I Cook At Home.
Lauren
March 16, 2015 at 3:47 pmYes! I’m totally in love with spring salads right now and this one is perfect! I love asparagus and I’m always looking for different ways to prepare it.
Katie Canonico
March 16, 2015 at 3:27 pmmy favorite cookbook at the moment is america’s test kitchen cooking school. love mark bitman’s how to cook everything as well.
Valerie Hoff
March 16, 2015 at 3:09 pmGreat combo of two of my favorites! What a beautiful, healthy salad!
Linsy
March 16, 2015 at 1:50 pmso many yummy recipes and wow giveaway, i can get Asian cuisine and i will be on top of the world
Aly M
March 16, 2015 at 12:18 pmSo many good cookbooks you have up there! I think my favorites are my America’s Test Kitchen ones because I can always go to them for traditional recipes and get ideas.
Chef Mireille
March 16, 2015 at 10:43 amIt’s a hard to limit to one favorite cookbook but if I’m forced to choose I suppose I’ll have to say The Essentials of Asian Cuisine by Corinne Trang. She has recipes from all over Asia from China to Indonesia and I have cooked several and I loved all of them. I hope I win!!!!
Jenn
March 16, 2015 at 8:53 amGorgeous salad… and amazing collection of cookbooks! Thanks for the giveaway!
Melissa Falk
March 16, 2015 at 8:27 amGorgeous photo. I love the simplicity of this salad. Nice!
Back For Seconds
March 16, 2015 at 7:46 amWhat a beautiful salad! My family would love it!
It Bakes Me Happy
March 16, 2015 at 6:30 amI love how light and fresh this salad is! I’m a total cookbook junkie, I have a very old worn out Better Homes and Gardens book that I use all the time
Kristen (amindfullmom)
March 16, 2015 at 4:35 amI am so in love with this salad!! I am totally making this for St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow!
Elizabeth
March 16, 2015 at 1:23 amOh heavens this salad sounds amazing! I am a big fan of avocado and I love what you’ve done with it here.
Arcee Angob Miranda
March 16, 2015 at 12:19 amI love the photos they are very crisp and the salad really looks yummy. I am hungry right now! Thanks for sharing your recipe and I hope to join you giveaway, but I am from Asia.