Confessions of a Guacaholic

Today marks the first day of October for the year 2014. Not that you would know it here...unless, of course, you were looking at a calendar or reading this blog post. Unfortunately for those of us living in Central Florida, it feels nothing like the beginning of October or, more disturbingly, like the season of fall at all. It's still reaching 90 degrees each day, it's constantly humid and muggy (I feel like I've got a layer of sweat permeating the surface of my skin at all times...eww, I know), and it's been torrential downpouring daily for the last 11 days straight. I'm honestly not sure if I'm still in Florida or really displaced to the depths of the African Congo. Dramatic, probably...but coming from living in a European country with such mild weather, I'm basically distraught at the thought that fall, and the feelings typically associated with the month of October, are still far from reality for us here. If you understand any one thing about me it should be that October is my most favorite month of the year (hello, birthday month!!) and fall is my spirit season. Let me reiterate, DISTRAUGHT. No amounts of Starbucks caramel coloring laden PSL's can save me now.

So, what do you do when your favorite season is no where in sight? You sure as heck don't go buy all things pumpkin and try to will it to light. I made that mistake in the form of a soup that was too rich and too soon. One step outside to pull weeds and the heat turned my full soup belly into curdled death fire. Not cute. Instead, I'm trying my darnedest to embrace this new life amongst the blazing sun by keeping meals light, airy, and relatively healthy. Because lets face it...as soon as fall does start making a true appearance (I'm thinking December, maybe), I'll be busting out my mac and cheese sweatpants and chomping down hearty stews with the best of them. Until that sweet pumpkin spiced day comes...GUAC.



I've really got to thank my Aunt T for this recipe. Every time I make my way back to North Carolina in the summertime, she drives down the road from her house to my parents house (half mile at best) to wine drink & board game it up. Homemade guacamole is always a snack staple and we've perfected the right combination of lime and saltiness. I'm drooling just thinking about the batch resting in my fridge as we speak. Last night, D and I grilled up some chicken, toasted some ciabatta rolls, plopped down some jalapeno jack, and slathered a glob of this guac on top for open faced sammies. NOMS. If fall has alluded you as well...this guacamole is here to be your saving grace. We don't need no stinkin' fall. Avocado is the new gourd!

[Just kidding, fall. Come back. I need you.]



Homemade Guacamole

[Serves 4...or 1 if you're a guacaholic like me]

Ingredients:

2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and cut into chunks

1 small tomato, diced

1/4 cup red onion, diced

1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic (less if you aren't a garlic fan)

Juice from half a lime

1/2 tsp. sea salt

pinch of fresh cracked black pepper

pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (if desired)

Directions:

1| Peel, remove pit, and cut avocados into chunks and place into a medium-sized bowl. Squeeze the half lime all over the avocado chunks to keep them from turning brown.

2| Add in the diced onions, tomatoes, and garlic and mash together with the back of a fork. Allow for some chunks of avocado to remain if you like a chunkier guac.

3| Sprinkle in the sea salt, pepper, and red pepper (if desired for spice) and stir together. Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips!

For more fun recipes, check out my CULINARY ADVENTURES page!

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