Avocado Pasta with Garlic Shrimp

Last week, I had the pleasure and privilege of spending five days in San Diego with some of my favorite people in the world. I returned home glowing with a renewed sense of calm, and a reinforced respond for the healing power of fresh, local whole foods.

The Gold Coast isn't called such simply because of its wealth in rocks and stones. It also boasts a wealth of produce that us East-Coasters can only imagine in our wildest dreams. Farmers Markets host an array of chromatic colors, as vibrant as they are varied. You can taste the health of the soil in each bite of watermelon-apple (yes!), in the rich hues of red walnuts (double yes!) and particularly, in the king of California: The AVOCADO.

On this side of the country, avocados are a rarity and a pretty penny. San Diego advertises its avocado bounty with street signs of "25/$5". If I hadn't learned my lesson traveling with bananas (just.bad), I would have hosted them happily in my suitcase.

Avocados have an unctuous richness and versatility that is unique among produce. They are just as much at home in sweet and savory preparations and in every meal of the day. Whenever avocado presented itself in San Diego, I obliged. I also applied this rule to seafood, which would have been arguably more disastrous as a stowaway than the soft green fruit. In California, the fresh catch of the day truly meant fresh, and I was reminded of the joy of marine proteins while there.

When I arrived home, I knew I wanted to carry my experience with me through the next dish I prepared, and this simple pasta was born. If you make sure to get the best quality ingredients available (namely, again, fresh), they will speak for themselves. This is a perfect meal to herald the Spring but still receive the comfort of a pasta dish, which is so appropriate for chilly months. If you want a low-carb version, simply use a spiralizer or a vegetable peeled to create noodles using zucchini. The addition of garlic in the shrimp and avocado sauce creates an irresistible aroma, and you will enjoy cooking this easy dish as much as eating it. Ok, almost.

I also want to use this opportunity to give a shout-out to my friend Carly, who owns an instagram account called @thepreggerspantry. Carly and her husband Adam (and their adorable son Rio) hosted me in San Diego at their breathtaking home, and it was such a treat to get to know her better. @thepreggerspantry offers healthy, natural living tips for pregnant and new moms, and her life is a true embodiment of functional medicine. Definitely take some time to check out her account!