This Avocado Greek Yogurt Green Goddess Dip is creamy and delicious – serve with lots of fresh vegetables for your next party.
Last Wednesday, we had our sixth session for our Daniel Plan series. We had covered each of the five essentials of the Daniel Plan leading up to this session (Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus and Friends), so our sixth session was on Living the Lifestyle – how to incorporate all these essentials into our life going forward.
I had been praying that we could find a special speaker for this session (we had special speakers for each of our five essentials sessions), but was unsuccessful. A few people suggested we ask some of the ladies in our group give testimonies – I thought this was a great idea, except I didn’t think anyone would want to get up in front of everyone to share their story. We had been breaking out into smaller groups each session, and these small groups have been a great way for everyone to talk in a more intimate setting. So, I was hoping to get someone to get up in front of everyone to speak, then we could break into smaller groups.
Well, sometimes our prayers are answered, but not in the way we are hoping for….I ended up being the special speaker…yikes! For those of you who know me, you know that I am an introvert, and that I hate getting up in front of a crowd and speaking, let alone sharing my personal story. Yet, over the past six weeks, I have been called to put this Daniel Plan series together for an incredible group of women, and have had the privilege of witnessing how this study has literally changed their lives, in small and big ways.
Personally, I have grown so much over the past month and a half – I have had to do many things outside of my comfort zone, including praying in front of a group – up until six weeks ago, I have only prayed with my own family. Although going into the program, I thought my Faith was pretty strong, I unexpectedly grew in my faith.  I had to trust God each week – to take away my anxiety leading each week’s study, to bless each of the women in the study that they might take away something from each session, and to help each of the special speakers deliver a message that would touch the hearts and minds of our participants.
I grew in each of the other four areas too. In the area of Food, I’ve been eating a lot less starchy carbs, more non starchy vegetables, leafy green vegetables, smaller portions of protein, and eating closer to The Daniel Plan “Perfect Plate.” As a result, I feel less bloated and have even lost a few inches around my waist.
In the area of Fitness, my S.M.A.R.T. goal is to exercise five times a week, which I have been able to successfully achieve for the past six weeks and intend to continue to meet. The key has been to exercise at least one day on the weekend (in case there’s a weekday I don’t do it) and to mix up my routine – going to the gym, doing The Daniel Plan fitness video, trying Tai Chi, and walking outside.
In the area of Focus, I have been reading three to four devotions each morning (my  favorites are Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, Having a Heart for God by Tracy Baumer Fox, and a daily devotion the Community Pastor from Grace Community Church has been sending to our group), which has really helped put things in perspective before my day starts.
And in the last area of Friends, I have been able to have deeper conversations with women in our group that I never had before, about life’s challenges, and about faith, an area that is not the typical conversation that one might have over coffee or lunch.
I have been so encouraged by this Daniel Plan study and I know it is a lifelong journey that is just beginning. What started out as an “activity” to get me out of the house this past winter, and to jumpstart my health for the Spring, has turned out to be so much bigger and better than I could ever have imagined. God is so good – He gives us more than we can ever expect or imagine when we least expect it.
Like this creamy Avocado Greek Yogurt Green Goddess Dip that I made for our meeting last week, developing a healthy lifestyle is a process, but once it comes together, it all makes sense, and delivers a pleasing result.
Avocado Green Goddess Dip
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado flesh removed and cut into pieces
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- 2 scallions chopped
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 2 canned anchovy fillets chopped, optional
- 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup non-fat or low-fat Greek yogurt
- sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
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Put avocado, lemon juice, parsley, basil, scallions, garlic and anchovies (if using) in food processor. Process until smooth. Add mayonnaise and Greek yogurt and pulse until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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Transfer to serving bowl, cover and chill. Serve with assorted vegetables.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Cooking Light. For a vegan version, leave out the anchovies and add a few dashes of soy sauce if you like.
I’m loving all the green in here! What a perfect little dip for spring!
Thank you Rachel!
Really smooth and creamy…I love anything with avocado.
I love avocado too!
This heavenly dip would be a favorite at any party!
Thanks Sommer – it is a colorful party dip for a veggie platter 🙂
Thank you for sharing! You’ve inspired me to revisit my Daniel Plan books. I’ll definitely make the dip next time I have friends over.
I hope you found the Daniel Plan as helpful as our group. Enjoy the dip!
Next party I go to, I am definitely making this dip. I always enjoy reading your recipes.
Thanks Lynda – have a wonderful weekend!
A lovely dish as always. You have mistakenly stated to make it vegan omit the anchovies but yoghurt is not vegan either. Do you have a recommendation for a substitute? Perhaps tofu.
Hi Vanda – thanks for catching that. There is a brand called So Delicious that makes a Greek style coconut yogurt (http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/cultured-coconut-milk/plain-greek-cultured-coconut-milk) – if you can’t find it, I think tofu could make a good substitute. Let me know if you try it.