Starting our Nochebuena right – Thank you, Avocados from Mexico.

Nochebuena preparations are in full swing around here.

The pig is happily marinating in the Mojo Criollo I told you about a few days ago. The Matervas are chilling in the fridge. Lucy is out in the world on a hunt for Turrones.

Every time the phone rings or there is a text, it is Christmas related.

My sister, Helen, calls: “We need an appetizer.”

We have tons of food for Nochebuena. Need is a relative word here. But I know better than to argue with my big sister. She’s Cuban. And she’s helping with the food. Enough said.

My mom calls: “We need a green salad.” What she means by that, is a salad with just lettuce, asparagus, and avocado. She doesn’t usually eat salad. She just wants an excuse to have avocados.

Cubans love avocados. My sister wants appetizers. My mom wants her avocado. (This is a winning scenario for me.)

Enter: Avocados from Mexico. Thankyouverymuch.

I’ve got this.

I’m making Avocado Cocktails for my appetizers. And I’m already anticipating the ooh’s and aah’s from my big, fat, Cuban family. I’ll share the super-simple-but-impressive-why-didn’t-I-think-of-this-earlier recipe with you right now.

Avocado Cocktails Recipe

• 4-5 ripe avocados
• 1 bottle cocktail sauce
• 1 fresh lemon
• salt & pepper to taste

1) Slice avocados into 1 inch chunks.

2) Put the avocado chunks into a medium size bowl and give them a squeeze of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

3) Add salt & pepper to taste and gently mix the avocados with a wooden spoon. You’re just coating them with lemon juice, salt, and pepper, so you want to mix as gently as possible.

4) Pour cocktail sauce over the avocado chunks and mix to coat.

5) Gently spoon coated avocado into serving cups.

6) Pour another small amount of cocktail sauce into your cups.

7) Then give them each another squeeze of lemon for flavor.

8) Garnish with lemon slices or wedges and chill for at least an hour.

9) Serve cold.

10) Take bows.

My mom will be happy because she’s getting her avocado. My family will sooo love these appetizers. (Total win!)

{Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Avocados from Mexico and they are generously compensating me for sharing this. The recipe is my own. I am thrilled that they gave me the impetus to make such a delicious dish with my family. I’m sooo winning here.}

For more fabulous recipes from Celebrity Chef Pepín, please visit the Avocados from Mexico Posadas site.