Grateful for Guacamole!

When visions of avocados start to dance in your head and you yearn for the subtle scent of garlic to linger on your fingertips... AND, especially if you're getting invited to more BBQs and cookouts than you can possibly squeeze into a weekend (starting with the ever-so-patriotic Memorial Day weekend)... You know it's GUACAMOLE SEASON!!!!

I know you cannot contain your excitement, but try to maintain composure until you're done reading this post.

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 3-5 ripe Avocados
• 2-3 cloves of Garlic for each avocado (if I'm craving more of a kick I'll use 4-5 cloves each)
• 1 large red onion
• 2-3 tomatoes for the entire batch (I find Roma tomatoes work best)
• 1 whole bunch cilantro
• Optional: .5 Tbsp whipped cream cheese (I don't normally eat cream cheese, so when I need this I just go to the bagel store and ask for those tiny ounce containers of cream cheese)
• about .5-1 tsp cumin powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Slice your avocados in half and scoop out the meat into a large bowl.  Using a potato masher, mash the avocados with the cream cheese until they reach a creamy consistency.

Dice your onions and chop your tomatoes.  Mince the garlic.  In a pan heat up olive Oil and saute HALF the garlic you minced with your onions for 1-2 minutes.  Add the cumin powder, tomatoes, and some salt and pepper. Cook for another minute.

Remove and add the contents of the pan to your creamy avocado concoction.  Add the remainder of the raw garlic and stir together.  

Finely chop the cilantro and add that to the batch.  Adjust any seasonings (I usually have to add a good amount of salt than I originally consider).

Enjoy with chips, as a condiment on hot dogs or burgers (adds a great flavor to vegan hotdogs and veggie burgers!), or let me know of creative ways you relish your guac.  I guarantee you'll be loved at BBQs, Block Parties, Dinner Parties or love yourself and chow down solo (I'll be the first to say that I've done that more times than I can count, so please don't feel an atom of guilt if you do.  Sometimes it's hard to leave the house when that bowl of guac is whispering sweet nothings into your ear.).