Jimmie Johnson

Just like Jimmie Johnson, we all need ways to ease our minds and separate from the ups and downs of daily life, whether that’s caring for family, managing finances, or simply trying to keep it all together during a busy or uncertain time. For some, unwinding looks like taking a long walk outside or reading a good book. For others, like Jimmie, calm can be found through working out (especially bike riding!), listening to music, or cooking in the kitchen.

Jimmie and Chandra, his wife, love to spend time at home cooking when they’re not traveling. It gives them a chance to spend time with family (their kids are big mac and cheese and ice cream fans) and entertain with friends, too. Jimmie likes the process of cooking and pulling together a meal — the same with craft cocktails. There’s a therapeutic aspect to finding the right ingredients and the right method to pull them all together to make something delicious.

Related: Have fun with your family with these game night ideas.

Cooking and baking can help you relax your mind, be creative, and get the awesome feeling of accomplishing a task. Plus, making food at home has plenty of benefits. Not only is cooking in your own kitchen far less expensive than most takeout options, it’s typically much healthier and can be a great activity to spend some time with friends and family.

Keep in mind, cooking and baking can be quite different. If you prefer to be more methodical and like the structure of following a recipe, baking might be for you. That’s because baking is a science, and you usually have to follow directions to a T. Cooking, on the other hand, typically lends itself to getting a little more experimental and creative in the kitchen.

Being from southern California, some of Jimmie’s favorite recipes are inspired by Mexican cuisine. And his take on guacamole is a perfect place for home chefs to start. It requires only a few simple ingredients, but you can easily make it your own with a pinch of chili powder here or a heaping spoon of Greek yogurt there. As you can see, Jimmie’s take includes hot sauce and Italian dressing … who knew? And, while making his recipe might not make you the next seven-time NASCAR Cup champion, you can surely enjoy trying something new and unwinding with a delicious snack.

Jimmie Johnson’s Guacamole

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium avocados, skin and pit removed
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Cholula)
  • 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Italian dressing
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • Tortilla chips, for serving

Preparation:

  • In a medium-size bowl, mash avocado to desired smoothness.
  • Stir in sour cream, hot sauce, garlic salt, pepper, Italian dressing, and lemon juice.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  • Refrigerate until serving.

The recipe yields 6 ½ cups. Try out Jimmie’s guacamole next time you’re celebrating Taco Tuesday, bring it to a potluck, or halve it and make it for a snack!

You can find a place of calmness in a hundred ways — maybe by taking a bath or lounging in your PJs. But take it from Jimmie Johnson: Sometimes the best ways to recharge are as simple as riding a bike, turning on tunes, or making a home cooked meal for you and your loved ones.

Learn more about Jimmie at Ally Racing.