Guacamole

                                           

A lot of people have a bad attitude about guacamole.  They think of it as that nasty green stuff on the plate at the mexican restuarant.  Guacamole can actually be quite refreshing and cooling for spicy foods.  It also makes a great dip for tortilla chips and is a fairly healthy snack or addition to a meal.  It is also super simple to make!

Ingredients:
2 ripe avacados
2 roma tomatoes
granulated chicken boullion
minced garlic or garlic powder
low fat sour cream

Begin by selecting ripe produce.  When you choose your avacados, make sure you pick some that are a little soft when a small amount of pressure is applied to the fruit.  Tomatoes are another matter entirely.  I prefer a vibrant red color on a firm fruit.  I know people who enjoy the really soft tomatoes.  This is entirely a personal choice.  You can also add a little diced onion to this recipe.  I don't like raw onion, and I have never enjoyed onion in my guacamole.   Also, you can use the boullion cubes, you just have to grind it up into a powder before using it for this recipe.  It is much easier to just buy a jar of the granulated kind.

Once you get your groceries home and are ready to make your dip, you need a medium bowl, a sharp knife, a spoon and a fork.  You want to cut your avacados in halves.  They have a large round pit in the middle so you have to hold them and turn the fruit in your hand to slice all the way around it.  Once it's cut, use a little pressure from the knife to separate the two halves.  Scoop out all the meat of the fruit into your bowl.  Scoop it all off of the pits, and set one pit aside (don't throw it away) and use the fork to thoroughly mash up the avacado. 

Now that the avacado is mashed, add a tablespoon or two of the low fat sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon of the chicken boullion and 1 teaspoon of the garlic to the bowl and blend it until most of the lumps are out.  You won't be able to get all of them unless you use a food processor, and that is a LOT of trouble and the guacamole isn't as good.  Give it a taste, if it doesn't have enough flavor, add a touch more boullion or a little more garlic.  It is mainly going to taste like avacado, but the seasoning gives it a little more flavor.  You can also add a little hot pepper mix to it (just a touch) or some plain black pepper.  You can also make it creamier if you want, by adding more sour cream.  Just be aware that the more sour cream you add to it, the more seasoning you are going to have to add.  The boullion is also terribly high in sodium, for those of you with high blood pressure or watching your sodium intake.

For the finishing touch, dice your tomatoes and stir in.  Once you have it together, put the avacado pit you saved in the bowl.  It helps keep the dip from turning brown.  Now grab your tortilla chips or spoon it on top of your burritos!