Guacamole

Easier to make than to spell, this healthy dip, is as simple or complicated as you'd like.

The Basics

Take a ripe avocado, split it, scoop out the flesh, lose the pit and get mashing. Add a pinch of salt, pepper if you like, some lime juice (or lemon juice if you don't have a lime handy). You're done.

For deeper flavour add a finely diced clove of garlic, or (the word "or" is important here), some finely sliced and diced onion, or red onion (dealer's choice). Basically they all have their place, but adding garlic and onion, is too strong for a mellow guacamole. To add a little bit more texture, try adding a finely diced sweet red pepper, or a jalapẽno, or even a couple of chopped cherry tomatoes.

If you want a richer, fattier dip, you can add a dollop of sour cream, or even some full fat Greek-style yogurt. Don't try and get too healthy with low-fat yogurt because that will ruin everything you've worked for. The key to all of it, is a properly ripe avocado. Too firm: no good. Too soft and it might be brown throughout. The skin should be dark with a bit of give. That's it. The future is yours.