champagne {margarita} brunch.

As a person who adores both margaritas and champagne, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the brilliant idea to combine them.

This is beyond brilliant. This is the stuff people should win awards for coming up with… Is anyone surprised it was Rick Bayless’ creation? Didn’t think so.

Champagne is a perfect match for my beloved margarita, because it adds just the right amount of sweetness – and the bubbles provide a great balance against the 1:1:1 ratio of tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Plus, we now have an excuse to drink tequila at breakfast.

And my, oh my – champagne margaritas open the door for endless Mexican brunch menu opportunities, don’t they?

This particular menu was born because I had just discovered a fabulous new fresh seafood market, which provided me with a burning desire to make ceviche. This is how menus are usually born for me – I get an idea in my head, and the rest follows. I had invited my BFF Sara to this brunch, who is originally from San Diego, so I knew I wanted to make huevos rancheros because she absolutely adores them (and so does Daniel) – but I also knew I didn’t want to be standing over the stove frying eggs up to order. So, I created a recipe for a huevos rancheros bake in the oven.

Seriously…how insane would these be for your New Year’s Day brunch? Get on it!

Champagne Margaritas

From Rick Bayless

• The finely grated zest (colored rind only) from 1 lime
• 1 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup Cointreau
• 1 cup silver tequila
• Superfine sugar, if needed for added sweetness
• 1 lime, cut in half, for serving
• Coarse (Kosher) salt, for serving
• 1 bottle Champagne or other sparkling wine

In a pitcher, combine the lime zest, lime juice, Cointreau, tequila and sugar if you are using it.  Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour).

Just before serving, strain the mixture to remove the zest, and pour enough salt into a saucer to cover the bottom.  Rub a lime half over the rim of each champagne glass and upend into the salt to crust it lightly.  Pour about 3 ounces of the tequila mixture into each glass, fill the rest of the way with Champagne or sparkling wine and hand to one of your lucky guests.

Makes 8 6-ounce drinks.

Also on the Menu:

Easy Homemade Ceviche

Huevos Rancheros Bake