Keeping in mind this singular exception, there was a day years back it was a very busy week and I wasn't exactly certain I could get all of the appetizers made for a cocktail gathering for some of my staff. One of my staff members must have caught me in a moment of weakness because I uncharacteristically said 'that would be great' to the question.
To this day I am eternally grateful that I loosened up a bit because the guacamole brought by this male guest turned out to be incredible. In the first bite, I immediately knew I had to have the recipe. So I asked 'where did you get this great guacamole recipe?' When he said it came from an old Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook, my response was 'seriously?'. He must have read my mind because he said he too was surprised at how good it was when it first made it, but that it had become his signature appetizer for the past twenty-five years. When you are the recipient of someone's treasured recipe, you feel as if you have been given a priceless gift.
His recipe called for the addition of one medium tomato chopped and added to the guacamole. Because you can only get really good tomatoes in the summer I will either omit this ingredient completely or use chopped grape tomatoes because they are perfect all year round. Either with or without the tomatoes this is one killer guacamole.
Once the avocados are mashed and combined with the lemon juice, you add all of the other ingredients. Remember to use Kosher salt in this recipe. Table salt and Kosher salt are not the same thing and in this recipe one cannot be substituted for the other.
Recipe
Guacamole (adapted from the recipe appearing in a Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook)
Photos updated February 2024
Ingredients
4 medium-sized ripe avocados
3 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
1 1/4 teaspoons Kosher salt
1/2 medium red onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 four ounce can of mild green chiles, drained and chopped or 1 four ounce can of chopped mild green chilies
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped grape tomatoes or 1 medium ripe tomato seeded and chopped
Directions
1. Slice each avocado in half lengthwise, remove seed, and scoop into a bowl.
2. Mash avocado with lemon juice. Leave chunky.
3. Stir in salt, minced onion, minced garlic and chopped chilies.
4. If adding tomatoes, stir into mixture.
5. Spoon into a bowl. (Cover with plastic wrap if not serving immediately.)
6. Serve with your favorite chips.
Even though the winter can be wicked at times, I would never want to miss out on being able to take in this season. I could certainly do without the blizzard experience, but there is nothing more mesmerizing that looking a beautiful winter sky, winter landscape. As much as I love warm weather, there is something about experiencing all four seasons that can be energizing. This is one guacamole recipe that tastes great any season. It might even be one that helps you get through those seasons that have a few less than pleasant days.