Guacamole

This is the only guacamole recipe you will ever need.  It is always a hit at parties and it's so easy to make with red onions, jalapeno, and ripe avocados. 

I love this guacamole recipe and make it so often. I love making it for family events and it only takes a few simple ingredients.

• Hass avocados
• Roma tomatoes
• Jalapeno
• Lime juice
• Red onion
• Cilantro
• salt and pepper

How to Make Guacamole

1. Find the best ripe avocados you can get your hands on. They should yield slightly when you push on them with your fingers but not be overly soft. If you can only find hard, unripe avocados you can store them in a paper bag to speed up the ripening process. Cut the avocados in half, remove and discard the skin and pit. Put the avocado in a bowl, set aside.
2. Small dice your tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno and cilantro. I like to squeeze my tomatoes to get some of the runny juice out before I dice them. We want thick guacamole after all. I also remove the seeds from my jalapeno so it's not too spicy.
3. Mash the avocados with a large serving fork. Sometimes I like to make a chunkier version and I try to cut the avocadoes into small diced pieces.
4. Add the small diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, and cilantro. Cut the lime in half squeeze the lime juice all over the avocado and stir.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ina Garten adds some Tobasco sauce to hers and I do that occasionally too. Do not skimp on the salt it makes a HUGE difference.

How to Store Guacamole

This is a tough one and I think it's what scares a lot of people away from making it. There is nothing worse than doing all the work and finding your guacamole is brown by the time you need to take it to a party. Once it is exposed to air it begins to turn brown.

You can try placing the plastic wrap right on the surface of the guacamole nice and tight. I have also added a half of an onion to the top - just sit it right on top, then cover that with plastic wrap. It does tend to work better.

Fun Ways to Serve Guacamole

• well duh, tortilla chips (I love Late July chips)
• serve with tacos or nachos
• top grilled fish with it
• use as a spread on a turkey sandwich
• put on top of a baked potato
• put on a cheeseburger or hot dog
• on crostini as an appetizer
• use as a crudite dip with jicama
• serve with scrambled eggs
• put in a layered Mexican dip
• serve with quesadillas
• serve with grilled shrimp as an appetizer