B L O G
The Best Guacamole You've Ever Tasted
Grab a bag of salty tortilla chips, and let’s get to making The Best Guacamole You’ve Ever Tasted…
If you’ve ever tried Guacamole from the store or restaurant, and didn’t like it… you might need a “do-over”. Not only can Guacamole be so flavorful, but it’s also a very easy dip to make for any party, taco night, or just a good old fashioned self care night in. Grab a bag of salty tortilla chips, and let’s get to making The Best Guacamole You’ve Ever Tasted…
First, start by heading over to Garden Valley and picking out your ripe avocados, juicy tomatoes, tangy limes, and flavorful red onions. We chose the better boy tomato, but you can easily substitute that for another tomato that you would prefer. If you ever need help in knowing if your avocado is ripe, any of our knowledgeable employees would be glad to assist you.
Also, did you know that avocados are REALLY good for you? Here’s some of the health benefits:
+ High in monounsaturated fats, which help prevent heart disease AND lower blood pressure
+ Great source of fiber, which is wonderful for gut health
+ High in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds
+ Packed with nutrients that support satiety in diet, helping support a healthy weight/diet
+ Great source of folate, a very important vitamin needed in fetal development
Okay now that you’re home, let’s get to the good stuff…
Start by slicing your avocados and dumping them into the bowl. Add in your freshly squeezed lime juice, garlic, salt, red onions, and tomatoes. Now mash, chop, and stir ingredients until blended to the texture you desire. Some people like no lumps, while others like a little bit of texture when dipping their chip. It’s all in the preference you choose.
There’s no science to this recipe, which is what makes it sooo easy. Just dump, smash, stir, and dip. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fresh and amazing this guacamole tastes. We also think you’ll be making this for every party from here on out. Trust us, it’s always the first thing to go at the appetizer table, and your friends and family will be raving about this recipe for a long time. Don’t worry though… it will be our little secret.
The Best Guacamole you’ve ever tasted
SERVINGS: 4 PEOPLE
INGREDIENTS
3 Avacodos
2 Freshly Squeezed Limes
1/4 C Finely Diced Red Onion
1/3 C Finely Diced Tomato
1 1/2 t Garlic Powder
Salt to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Slice avocados and scoop the meat of them into mixing bowl.
2. Squeeze the juice of your two limes into bowl with your avocados.
3. Finely chop 1/4 C tomato and 1/3 C red onion while the avocado is absorbing the lime juices.
4. Dump onion, tomato, salt, and garlic powder into the bowl.
5. Smash your avocados and stir until your have reached desired texture and consistency in your guacamole.
6. Grab a chip (or two) and taste test.
S I D E N O T E
We have found that letting the avocado absorb the lime juice prior to smashing it does help to soften it. This helps if your avocado was not quite ripe enough.
Our Top 3 Easy and Refreshingly Delicious "Mocktails"
If you have visited Garden Valley recently and bought a TON of delicious produce… we have a really great suggestion for you… DRINKING IT! We’ve test-tasted 3 delicious “mocktail” recipes that will up your drink game, and can easily be made for entertaining your friends and family… or served as a refreshing afternoon drink for your kiddos, without all of the added processed sugars.
So you visited Garden Valley and bought a TON of delicious produce… now what? Well, eating all of it is, of course, a very easy and obvious choice. BUT, may we also throw out the idea of drinking your produce? We’ve test-tasted 3 delicious “mocktail” recipes that will up your drink game, and can easily be made for entertaining your friends and family… or served as a refreshing afternoon drink for your kiddos without all of the added processed sugars.
3 Easy and Refreshingly Delicious “Mocktails”
Blueberry and Lime Mojito
Ingredients
1/2 oz lime juice (about a half lime)
3-4 tbsp pink lemonade
2 tbsp fresh blueberries
6-8 sprigs of fresh mint leaves
2 oz coconut water
3 oz club soda
Ice cubes
Directions
1. Muddle blueberries, mint, lime juice, and the pink lemonade at the bottom of your glass
2. Add a few ice cubes and top with 2 oz coconut water
3. Finish with club soda
4. Garnish
Strawberry and Honey Mint Smash
Ingredients
1/4 cup fresh strawberries
2 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp honey
1.5 oz club soda (or vodka)
Crushed ice
Sprite
Directions
1. Muddle strawberries, mint, and honey together
2. Add club soda or vodka
3. Add 1/2 cup crushed ice and top with Sprite
4. Garnish
Cucumber, Watermelon and Basil Lemonade
Ingredients
3 cups cubed watermelon
1 large cucumber
1/4 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup lemon juice
Club Soda
Directions
1. Pulse watermelon, cucumber, basil, and lemon until fully blended
2. Pour mixture over strainer, cheese cloth, or into french press. Strain
3. Pour strained liquid over ice and to with soda water
4. Garnish
FROM GARDEN VALLEY:
Enjoy these delicious and refreshing drinks this spring and summer, because we know we will! We also want to thank you for choosing to shop local with us, and we hope you continue to join our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
We would love to see you and your friends drinking these mocktails, so don’t forget to tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! We can’t wait to see! @gardenvalleyfarmersmarket
The Easiest Butternut Squash Soup Ever
If you’re wanting a delicious soup recipe that screams the word “Fall”, then this delicious, mouth-watering soup recipe is for you! It’s super easy with minimal ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard. And it will FOR SURE leave your kitchen smelling like your grandma’s house during a thanksgiving dinner.
If you’re wanting a delicious soup recipe that screams the word “Fall”, then this delicious, mouth-watering soup recipe is for you! It’s super easy with minimal ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard. And it will FOR SURE leave your kitchen smelling like your grandma’s house during a thanksgiving dinner.
Butternut Squash Soup
First, we recommend gathering all of your ingredients to make the cooking process easier and faster for you. What you’ll need: butternut squash, salt, pepper, chicken stock, fresh rosemary, honey, cayenne pepper, white onion, and olive oil. Also, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Next, combine your Cayenne Pepper, Salt, Pepper, Rosemary, Honey, and Olive Oil into a bowl to form a homemade glaze that’s so gooey and smooth.
Once you’ve made your glaze, set it aside and get to work on slicing your Butternut Squash in half. Gut out the seeds of the core of the squash, and then slice cubes into the meat of the squash, being careful to not slice through the skin. Slicing the cubes allows for an even absorption of the glaze into the “meat” of the squash.
Place your squash on a baking sheet and brush with your delicious homemade glaze. Go ahead and pop them in the oven for about 45-60 minutes. You could cook them faster, but let’s be honest… when it comes to cooking, slower is always much better! While they’re in the oven, baste them in their own juices a few times.
While waiting for your squash to cook, cut your onion and begin caramelizing it in a large pot with your butter. This should be done over a low/medium heat. Again, slow and steady.
Once your squash is finished cooking, scoop into the large pot that your onion is cooking in. Add your chicken stock and blend with a hand blender. (You could also add those ingredients to a regular blender if you don’t have access to a hand blender.)
When you’ve finished blending, season with salt and pepper to taste, and you’re done! See… that wasn’t so bad was it? Basically you just have to cut up a squash, add a glaze, cook in the oven, and puree once done. Super easy, quick, and FULL of FLAVOR that will leave us feeling so cozy and embracing the warmth that this Fall season brings to our lives.
Butternut Squash Soup RECIPE
SERVINGS: 2-3 PEOPLE
INGREDIENTS
1 Butternut Squash
1 3/4 C Chicken Stock
1 T Rosemary
1 T Honey
1/4 t Cayenne Pepper
1/2 White Onion
1 T Olive Oil
1/4 t Salt (also to taste)
Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine salt, pepper, rosemary, honey, and olive oil into bowl.
3. Slice squash in half. Gut seeds out of core. Slice cubes into the meat of squash.
4. Place on baking sheet and brush with glaze. Pop in oven for 45-60 minutes. (Baste in juices occasionally throughout cooking.)
5. Cut onion and begin caramelizing in a large pot with butter over medium/low heat.
6. Take cooked squash out of oven and scoop into pot that onion is cooking in. Blend with hand blender.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
S I D E N O T E
If you do not have access to a hand blender, you can mix/puree ingredients by using a
regular blender instead.
The Perfect Southern Tomato Sandwich
German Johnson, Better Boy, Big Beef… there’s so many to choose from. And the best thing about tomato sandwiches is that there’s no right way to make one. It’s literally the consumer’s preference, and each creation is just a good as the next. What makes the perfect tomato sandwich for you? For us, it’s…
German Johnson, Better Boy, Big Beef… there’s so many to choose from. And the best thing about tomato sandwiches is that there’s no correct way to make one. It’s literally the consumer’s preference, and each creation is just a good as the next.
Did you know that we carry juicy Better Boy tomatoes, and are soon to carry NC farmer grown German Johnson and Heirloom tomatoes. You can order online and pick up today! Don’t forget that we still have a good variety of tomato plants for you to grow yourself.
What makes the perfect tomato sandwich for you? For us, it’s a good slather of Duke’s mayonnaise on two slices of Sourdough bread from Sour Bakery (which you can pick up at Converge Coffee Bar & Cafe if you’re local to the Burlington, NC area). Add two juicy slices of a Better Boy tomato and one slice of a yellow tomato, salt and pepper to taste, and you have yourself a good ole’ southern tomato sandwich. Take it a step further by toasting your bread beforehand. And if you REALLY want to take it up a notch, add a few slices of fresh bacon, onion, and some shredded lettuce for a nice crunchy texture, full of juicy flavor.
Serve with a side of baked beans, fresh slaw, or potato chips, and you have yourself a good ole southern style meal that will forever be a summer classic to individuals and families alike for generations to come.
We want to know…
what’s your favorite way to make a tomato sandwich? Let us know in the comments below! Or you can share your sandwich creation with us by using #gardenvalleyfarmersmarket on our Facebook or Instagram! We can’t wait to see!
Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook, Youtube, or our Instagram. If you’re wanting to earn rewards and be easily connected with us, download our new App. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team
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Garden Valley Farmers Market where we strive to
Plant Better.
Eat Better.
Live Better.
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