How to Make Guacamole

Here's a recipe for an easy and welcome starter for any party. Ripe, soft avocados are essential. This recipe serves six to eight as an appetizer.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 3-4 ripe avocados
• 1-2 minced garlic cloves
• 1/4 c. lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. minced chives
• 1 small tomato - cubed
• salt to taste
• salsa
• Groceries
• Knife
• Tortilla Chips

1. Find the ripest avocados you can - they should be soft when squeezed gently, with dark-green skin. Avoid brown avocados, which are too ripe.

2. Cut each avocado in half, working around the large, smooth pit. Separate the avocado halves and remove the pit.

3. Scoop the avocado flesh out of the skins.

4. Use a fork to mash the avocados until smooth - some chunks are OK. Use a food processor for large amounts of avocado if you like, but avoid overprocessing.

5. Add minced fresh garlic, lemon juice, chives and cubed tomato. Add salt and salsa to taste, if desired.

6. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.

Tips & Warnings

• A potato masher works very well to mash avocados.

• You also can add chopped cilantro, chile powder, jalapeño chiles or fresh garlic, if desired.

• If you know you won't be able to find ripe avocados, plan to buy unripe ones five days ahead of time so they'll have a chance to ripen.

• Serve with cold beer or margaritas.