easy, breezy guac.

I found this extremely inexpensive and made-in-under-5-minutes guacamole recipe from Laura Dolson on About.com.You most likely already have all the ingredients in your kitchen (minus the avocado). Avocados are about $1 a piece and I'd estimate that a one-avocado batch of guacamole makes two or three servings, which I consider a pretty good value. It's best known as a chip dip or a burrito topping, but if you're looking for a healthier alternative I've found it's great as a carrot dip as well. And not only does guac taste AMAZING, but it's also amazingly good for you. Why? Avocados, which are actually fruits, are full of monounsaturated fats (important for your heart, skin, and overall health), fiber, and Vitamin C. Another benefit of avocados is that their thick skin prevents pesticides from leeching in, so you don't need to buy organic. Guac definitely deserves its rep as a great party food!

Super-Easy Guacamole

Ingredients

-avocados (number according to the size of the crowd)
-about 1/4 tsp salt per avocado
-about 2 Tbsp salsa per avocado
-about 3/4 tsp garlic powder per avocado
-about 1/2 tsp lemon or lime juice per avocado
-optional: Chopped cilantro, chopped onion

Preparation

1. Cut the avocados in half, squeeze out the pit (just gently squeeze till it pops out) and scoop the fruit into a bowl.
2. Add the salt, juice, salsa, and garlic powder. Mash it together with a fork (I like to leave some chunks).
3. Taste. If you can't taste the avocado much, add a bit of salt. If it's a little flat, dribble a little juice in. If it's not spicy enough, add a little salsa. Try more garlic powder to see how that changes it. Play with it and you will find your "ideal guac balance point".
4. Stir in cilantro and onion at the end if you want to.
5. Enjoy with tortilla chips, in a taco salad, on a burrito, or as a veggie dip!

If you want to know more about all the benefits of eating guacamole/avocados, check out this article from WebMD.