Easy guacamole

Growing up in California I never truly appreciated the fact that we could get avocados almost anywhere for low prices (I had a tree in front of my college house even!). Once I moved to Ann Arbor and saw how expensive the fruit can be I decided to teach myself a few simple Mexican recipes to remind myself of home and the incredible Mexican cuisine I love. To me, this type of food is simple, spiced well, and relies on flavorful and fresh ingredients to add color and taste. One of the key things I wanted to master was how to make guacamole that could rival anything authentic and blow the grocery store varieties out of the water. After getting hooked on Food Network's own Marcela Valladolid, I was eager to try her simple guacamole recipe on a bowl of quickly ripening avocados I had on my table. I've tested the recipe a few times, once with a jalapeno and another with a spicier Serrano chile (remove the vein and seeds, then chop finely). Both offer a little kick of heat that is easily mellowed by the creamy avocado and citrusy lime. Try mashing the fruit with the lime first to prevent any browning, then add the extra ingredients. This is a recipe I definitely plan on making multiple times over the summer.