Sunday, April 11, 2021

Avocado Toast Recipe and #Giveaway from Guest Author, Olivia Blacke @oliviablacke

Hello, everyone! Mia P. Manansala here, and I'm so thrilled to introduce my guest today! Olivia Blacke is one of my fellow Berkley 2021 debuts, and her book KILLER CONTENT is so much fun! Her protagonist, Odessa Dean, is utterly charming and I can't wait for the sequel, NO MEMES OF ESCAPE (October 5, 2021).

Today, she's sharing one of my favorite light meals: Avocado toast (I'm a Millennial, after all). She's also giving away a signed, physical copy of her debut (US only), so make sure to read to the end!

DIY Avocado Toast
Avocado toast gets a bad rap.

This simple and delicious light meal has somehow come to represent everything that’s wrong with the world these days. Personally, I don’t get it. Avocado toast deserves all the love.

Back in the days where we took restaurants for granted, I sat down at a quaint little café with a dear friend-slash-colleague of mine who is in his mid-sixties. He saw avocado toast on the menu and his eyes lit up. “I’ve always wanted to try this!” he said as he ordered it. He enjoyed his meal thoroughly, and when it was done, said, “Now I see what all the fuss is about. Does that mean I’m a Millennial now?”

I think if more people, like my friend, tried avocado toast, they’d realize that they’re missing out on a wonderful treat.

In my debut cozy mystery, KILLER CONTENT, main character Odessa Dean moves from a tiny town in Louisiana to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg and works at Untapped Books & Café, where she is introduced to all sorts of wonderful dishes created by Chef Parker, including simple but delightful homemade hummus to his own take on avocado toast.

Then again, up until a few weeks ago, I hadn’t even heard of avocado toast. I hadn’t known that avocado was good for anything other than mashing into guacamole, but to my surprise, avocado toast was not only delicious, it was also more complex than the name suggested. There were dozens of ways to prepare it, but here at Untapped, it was two slices of locally produced multigrain bread, lightly toasted, topped with creamy avocado chunks, a slice of heirloom tomato, a squirt of lime, a sprig of cilantro grown in the next- door rooftop garden, and feta cheese crumbles, with a perfectly poached egg on the side. – KILLER CONTENT

Odessa Dean loves Parker’s avocado toast, along with his famous peanut and tofu Thai salad, savory sandwiches served on warm artisan bread, raspberry Nutella crepes, and every other dish he can imagine. Unfortunately for the rest of us, Untapped Books & Café only exists in the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy Parker’s avocado toast at home!


Cast of characters

You’ll need:

  • Toasted bread. Like Parker, I prefer a nice hearty multigrain but your favorite toast will do well. Two to three slices per serving (unless you’re using unusually large or small bread).
  • Ripe avocados. The trick to knowing when avocados are ripe is easy – if the step pops out easily, the avocado is ripe! A whole avocado is good for one heaping serving.
  • Salt – which can be left out if you’re watching your sodium intake. And good for you!
  • Pepper
  • A splash of lime juice
  • Tomatoes. Diced, sliced, cherry, beefsteak, heirloom, you can’t go wrong.
  • Cilantro – again this is up to your personal preference. One of my besties runs screaming from the room if she even hears the word “cilantro,” so if you’re not a fan, leave it out.
  • Feta cheese crumbles
  • Diced red onions
  • Egg. One egg per serving.

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Directions:

  • Toast the bread
  • Poach the egg. Again, this comes down to personal preference. Parker serves his eggs poached but I prefer hard boiled.
  • Cut the avocado in half, remove the seed, and scoop out the yummy avocado goodness
Dice the avocado

  • Dice or lightly smash the avocado. “Lightly smash.” Don’t you just love that phrase?
  • In the bowl with the avocado, add in diced tomatoes, diced red onions, a splash of lime juice, a dash of salt, and a dash of paper. Combine gently – or mash it all together into a creamy paste if that’s your jam.
  • Spread the avocado mix on the toast. Add feta crumbles on top. Garnish with cilantro if desired.
  • Serve two to three slices of delicious avocado toast with a poached egg on the side.
Finished avocado toast

Before we go any further, let’s address the elephant in the room. Your favorite avocado toast always has fresh garlic. Or jalapenos. Or sea salt. Or radishes. But I didn’t mention any of those wonderful additions in my recipe! That’s because there are as many different ways to prepare avocado toast as there are people to enjoy it. As with any dish, feel free to experiment and add your own touches to make a meal uniquely yours!

GIVEAWAY: I’m happy to giveaway a signed paperback copy of KILLER CONTENT (US Only). Just answer the question: What ingredients do you like to add to your favorite avocado toast?

BIO

Brooklyn Murder Mysteries author Olivia Blacke writes quirky, unconventional, character-driven cozy mysteries. After shuffling around the U.S.A. from Hawaii to Maine, she currently resides with her husband and their roly-poly rescue puggle, but is forever homesick for NYC. In addition to writing, disappearing into a good book, and spending way too much time on social media, she enjoys SCUBA diving, crocheting, collecting tattoos, watching hockey, and baking dog cookies. She can often be found on Twitter as @oliviablacke or on her website at OliviaBlacke.com. Sign up for her newsletter for access to exclusive content.


It’s murder most viral in this debut mystery by Olivia Blacke.

Bayou transplant Odessa Dean has a lot to learn about life in Brooklyn. So far she’s scored a rent free apartment in one of the nicest neighborhoods around by cat-sitting, and has a new job working at Untapped Books & Café. Hand-selling books and craft beers is easy for Odessa, but making new friends and learning how to ride the subway? Well, that might take her a little extra time.

But things turn more sour than an IPA when the death of a fellow waitress goes viral, caught on camera in the background of a couple’s flash-mob proposal video. Nothing about Bethany’s death feels right to Odessa–neither her sudden departure mid-shift nor the clues that only Odessa seems to catch. As an up-and-coming YouTube star, Bethany had more than one viewer waiting for her to fall from grace.

Determined to prove there’s a killer on the loose, Odessa takes matters into her own hands. But can she pin down Bethany’s killer before they take Odessa offline for good?


36 comments:

  1. Is this the part when I confess that I have never eaten avocado toast and I never intend to? I can understand the appeal to some, but there is one thing that will stand in the way - I don't like avocados. (Or guacamole, either.) But I'm more than happy for those who do enjoy it.

    Heard great things about the book, but haven't gotten it yet. I'd love to win!

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  2. Sorry, but my avocados are either made into guacamole, sliced on sandwiches, or diced and put into soup or salad. I just can't wrap my brain around putting it on toast. Thank you for the chance to win.

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  3. I have never tried avocado toast but I do like it in my salad. Thanks for the chance!
    Jess
    maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. Cooked, crumbled bacon is a favorite item to pair with avocados. I also enjoy a splash of Cholula hot sauce.

    The book sounds wonderful!

    kimmwrtr@yahoo.com

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  5. I put chopped green onions in mine and just a hint of garlic.

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  6. Sadly, I must admit that avocados are just not my thing at all. However, we have dear friends that visit us from out of state often (when Covid isn't lurking) and I know they love it. Your recipe gives me a heads up on how to prepare a dish I know they will love. Also knowing their likes and dislikes, I think they would enjoy a bit of finely chopped green onions (out of the garden of course as are the tomatoes) and maybe a few crumbles of bacon to go with the poached egg. Can't wait to try it and see what their expression is on the first bite.

    Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to win a copy of "KILLER CONTENT". Shared and hoping to be the fortunate one selected. Can't wait to read and review.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  7. I love avocado toast, and your recipe is very similar to how my daughter makes it and looks so delicious - she tops hers with flaked sea salt, which is a nice touch.

    Thanks for visiting MLK and for your giveaway! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  8. Avocado toast with tomatoes and basil is my favorite snack. Wonderful recipe and book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. Yum! This book looks so fun! I like avocado toast with a soft boiled egg, sea salt, and green harissa. Email is sara.Nell.chatfield@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Sara, congratulations! You've been randomly selected as the winner of a copy of KILLER CONTENT! Please check your email for more information.

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  10. Welcome to the Kitchen, Olivia! We're always delighted to celebrate debut authors. And I ADORE avocado toast in all its variations!

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  11. I enjoy this type of snack or even as a meal. I combine it with kale and it is so yummy and filling. Your book sounds captivating and special. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  12. I enjoy this type of snack or even as a meal. I combine it with kale and it is so yummy and filling. Your book sounds captivating and special. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. Avocado toast can go from blah to divine. It's amazingly versatile.

    "if the step pops out easily, the avocado is ripe!" I bet you mean "stem", not "step".

    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    Replies
    1. I gather you haven't been reading these comments since there has been no reply to anyone and you haven't corrected the recipe.

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  14. Congratulations on your debut book. I like avocados in guacamole, but I have never tried avocados toast, but it sounds delicious.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I've never had avocado toast, but I like avocados in my low carb "taco-less taco salad." Combine in a bowl a couple of cups of salad greens, some ground beef that you've fried then sprinkled with taco seasoning powder, a cut up avocado, and some shredded cheese. dressing is a mixture of sour cream and salsa. Yum! seboggs(at)comcast(dot)net

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  16. I used lime juice, cilantro, garlic powder, and cumin when I made avocado toast. Your book sounds interesting. Nice to see a cozy set in a city. Stay safe and well.

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  17. Your recipe looks good! I enjoy avocado toast with a tomato, salt and pepper. So good! Thanks is for the chance! You are a new author to me!

    jarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  18. I love avos and eat them many ways, depending on my mood and what I've got on hand. It's also great on toasted bagels, and I like "everything bagel" seasoning. lola777_22 at hotmail dot com

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  19. I don't like avocados and so would not try avocado toast. I must say, thought, that the rest of this recipe sounds great, so maybe I could make "avocado-less" toast? I'd add some chopped fresh basil. Congratulations on your debut novel, and thanks for the giveaway! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. I've never had avocado toast. JL_Minter(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  21. I might like to add some chopped red onion, diced jalapeno slices, and black olive slices to a basic recipe for avocado toast.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  22. I once had a version of avocado toast with hummus and mushrooms. It was tasty.
    wskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  23. Have not tried it yet, but it is on my list of try one day.
    lindalou64(@)live(dot)com

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  24. Karen B
    Do not like avocados but your book sounds wonderful!
    kpbarnett1941(at)aol(dot)com

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  25. I like to add some tomatoes and cheese.
    Denise
    dlc1228@gmail.com

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  26. Not a fan of avocados. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  27. I've never eaten any version of avocado toast. Frankly I don't get it. All those ingredients are perfect wrapped up in a corn tortilla. Why mess with toast?
    patdupuy@yahoo.com

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  28. I like to drizzle balsamic vinegar on top of the avocado toast.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  29. I have never had this but I love avocadoes in salads and guacamole! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com

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  30. I've never had it. Sounds interesting though. Donakutska7@gmail.com

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  31. I've been eating avocado toast long before it was a thing. One of my favorite snacks is avocado and pepper jelly on toast.

    I think if you start with toast and avocado you can't go wrong.

    My husband used to dislike avocado but gradually started trying it since I'm always making new things with them. Now, he enjoys my guac and loves the deviled eggs I make with the green treat.
    macsterdaly(at)gmail(dot)com

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