Deep in the grove of the North, where the snowflakes are as soft as dandelion fluff and the air smells of fresh pine and peppermint, there’s a jolly old avocado like none you’ve ever seen. Santa Cardo, with his white, bushy moustache and his rind as green as the everlasting Christmas tree, is the spirit of the season wrapped in a peel.
Once the Christmas lunch has been savoured and the last of the cranberry sauce has been scraped off the plates, Santa Cardo, with a twinkle in his dark, shiny pit, rises to announce, “Now, for the grand finale!”
But this isn’t a task for one avocado, no matter how round and robust. Santa Cardo calls upon his trusty team: Mrs. Cardo, with her apron dusted in flour, and the ElvCardos, nimble as they are green, darting around with spoons and mixing bowls. And let’s not forget the DeerCardos, their antlers tangled with fairy lights, eagerly waiting to churn the ice cream with their hooved feet.
Together, they whip up the most magical dessert of the season: Avocado and Cacao Mint Ice-Cream (that just happens to be in the cookbook). It’s a dish that has the ElvCardos singing carols in harmonious cacophony and the DeerCardos prancing in delight. Santa Cardo oversees the operation, ensuring every scoop is as smooth as his belly, which shakes like a bowl full of jelly when he chuckles.
The secret, he confides with a wink to the littlest ElvCardo, is not just in the ripe, rich avocados or the dark, sumptuous cacao. “It’s the mint, and the secret ingredients” he whispers. “Grown under the light of the Christmas star, it has the cool kiss of winter and the warm hug of the hearth.”
As they serve the ice cream, the room fills with oohs and aahs, the chill of the mint perfectly complementing the creamy avocado and rich cacao. Santa Cardo, his heart as full as his spoon, takes a moment to look around at all the smiling faces. “It’s moments like these”, he says to all, “that are the true gifts of the season”.
With the last bites of ice cream melting on their tongues, the Cardo clan gathers around the hearth. Santa Cardo, with a satisfied nod, declares, “This, my DeerCardos, is the taste of Christmas joy.” And outside, the snow whispers its agreement, blanketing the world in peace and giving all creatures, great and small, a sweet dream to snuggle into.