NatureSweet SunBursts™ MVP Promotion...Featuring Cherubic Avocado Mousse Bites

I've got some exciting news to share today! NatureSweet^® Tomatoes is kicking off the New Year with the return of its popular NatureSweet SunBursts™ MVP promotion. Designed to help busy foodies plan the perfect game day party, NatureSweet is giving away one daily $200 prize and one weekly $1,000 prize between now and February 1 -- for a total of $6,800!! Along with the cash prizes, NatureSweet has created the ultimate MVP Party Playbook. It includes delicious recipes, healthy game day snack ideas, and even some money-saving coupons. Packages of juicy, golden SunBursts tomatoes with unique on-pack codes can be found -- along with the Party Playbook -- at the NatureSweet MVP display in produce sections of participating retailers across the country. 

NatureSweet is based right here in San Antonio, and they're the leading grower of premium fresh tomatoes in the U.S. They also taste really great too! I wasn't able to locate SunBursts™ when I went grocery shopping last weekend, but I did manage to get my hands on some of their deliciously sweet Cherubs grape tomatoes to create my Cherubic Avocado Mousse Bites. If you're looking for a veg-friendly game day snack for the Super Bowl, look no further! These fun appetizers are ready to serve in about 15 minutes and feature creamy lime-infused avocado mousse that's piped into scoop-shaped tortilla chips. Each bite is topped with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, halved Cherub tomatoes, and flakes of coarse sea salt. I love guacamole as much as the next gal, but these little bites are definitely MVP caliber!

Cherubic Avocado Mousse Bites

a Weekend Gourmet original

Ingredients (makes 3 dozen bites):

• 36 scoop-shaped tortilla chips
• 1 cup shredded colby-jack cheddar
• 18 NatureSweet Cherub grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
• Flaked sea salt

For the avocado mousse:

• 1/2 of a large avocado OR 1 whole small avocado
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 tbs. jalapeno-flavored hot sauce
• 1 tbs. dry ranch dressing mix
• 1 tbs. chopped cilantro

Directions:

Step 1: Add the avocado, garlic, cream cheese, sour cream, lime juice, ranch dressing mix, cilantro, and jalapeno hot sauce in the bowl of a food processor. Process for 30 seconds, until all of the ingredients are completely incorporated and a fluffy mousse is formed.

Step 2: Spoon the avocado mousse into a quart-sized plastic zip bag. Seal the bag -- making sure to remove any air -- and snip the corner, creating a piping bag. Pipe the avocado mousse into each of the scoop tortilla chips. Top each bite with a sprinkle of cheese and top with a halved Cherub tomato. Just before serving, sprinkle the coarse flake sea salt on top.

These fun little bites are amazing! They've got the perfect amount of crunch from the tortilla chips, and the flavorful mousse is super creamy. It's slightly tart from the lime juice, and the ranch seasoning provides lots of great flavor. The Cherubs provide a nice pop of color...and flavor! They're juicy and slightly sweet, and they bring the appetizer together perfectly. These Cherubic Avocado Mousse Bites are the perfect veg-friendly addition to your upcoming Super Bowl spread. A word of advice: you may want to make a double batch of this easy-to-make appetizer...because everyone who's tried them absolutely loves them!

Disclosure: NatureSweet provided me with product samples to facilitate this article. All opinions expressed are solely my own.