Sweet, creamy avocado shakes are a favorite dessert or mid-afternoon snack of the Vietnamese.  Avocados, referred to as "butter fruit" around the region, are used as a dessert ingredient throughout Vietnam and southeast Asia.

Ingredients:
1 large, ripe avocado
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1/2 cup sweetened, condensed milk
1 cup ice cubes
lemon slices (optional)

Directions:
Slice avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop small pieces of the avocado, flesh and fruit, into blender. Next add vanilla, yogurt, ice cubes, and sweetened, condensed milk to blender.  Blend on medium-high speed until thoroughly mixed and smooth.
Pour Smoothie into glasses, garnish with a lemon slice (optional), and enjoy .....recipe makes 2 servings.

Global variations on the Avocado Smoothie:
     Called "Es Apokat" in Indonesia, strong coffee is substituted for the milk. Another Indonesian variation to the shake above, calls for dripping about 1/4 cup chocolate syrup around the edges of a tall glass before pouring in the shake. Very pretty and very delicious!

     Brazil's version is called "Creme de Abacate" and calls for adding a squeeze of lime juice to the above Avocado smoothie recipe.  Again, another delectable treat.

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                Caramel Corn Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

3 qts popped Weaver® popcorn
1/2 cup Karo dark corn syrup
1 stick butter/margarine
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
     Optional add ins!
3 cups unsalted mixed nuts (or peanuts)

Preparation

Spray large shallow roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine popcorn and nuts in pan; place in 250° oven while preparing syrup. In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Over medium heat, stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, without stirring. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour over warm popcorn mixture, stirring to coat thoroughly.

Bake at 250° for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Cool, break apart. Place in an air tight container to store.

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