And the beginning of the challenge: Avocado!

Guacamole! Ole! Avocado!

I don't eat this yumtabulous treat very often. My hips don't need it and Harry doesn't really care for it - he says it tastes green.

I didn't take enough pictures the last time I made it. I was just so excited to make it I forgot the step by step pictures. I tend to plan this one a few days in advance so I can buy a rather firm avocado and let it ripen on my kitchen counter.

When I used to go to Scottsdale for the annual Sewing Circle parties, salsa and guacamole were always my contributions. I could pick up the ingredients at Fry's and throw it together. It was also a lot cheaper than trying to pack my KitchenAid in the suitcase. Do you know how heavy that thing is?

In the winter, the only fresh tomatoes I'll buy are cherry or grape tomatoes. Those rock-hard things they call tomatoes in central Ohio in January taste like paper and I won't subject my sensitive tongue to them.

Years ago, when I worked at Barley's Smokehouse and Brewpub, Thursday's lunch special was enchiladas. The kitchen guys who grew up south of the border made the guac and an amazing verde sauce. The verde was for staff consumption only and the guacamole was to die for.

I can't count the number of times I asked Adolfo for the recipe. All he would do is tell me what was in it. I had to kind of learn to wing it from there. But, at the rate it always disappeared in Scottsdale, I think this Midwestern gal got the hang of it.

I like my guacamole to be chunky, so I just kind of mash the avocado a bit with a fork and use a very gentle hand when mixing everything together. There's tomato, sweet onion, fresh garlic, fresh lime juice, minced jalepeno, cilantro and just a pinch of Kosher salt.

How much of everything? Remember what Adolfo said to me? Nah...follow the link to my recipe for Fast & Easy Guacamole