Archives For tequila

Here we go again.

frozen peach {basil} sangria

And by we, I mean me … once again, I’m off making deliciously crafty cocktails that go down way too easily – and if you’re not careful, you’re gonna end up in a state of comatosity.

I’m not kidding – after a nice, healthy pour of this frothy sensation, I was ready for a nap.

But isn’t this what summer’s all about? Sweet peaches, fresh basil, crisp white wine and tequila … it’s starting to look like I took my favorite things about summer and stuffed them all into a blender, isn’t it?

It kinda is what I did, but let me just say, this is one of the best cocktails I’ve ever made. It’s truly unique, yet all of the flavors harmonize perfectly.

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I thought about sharing this margarita with right before Cinqo de Mayo, but I didn’t.

Prickly Pear Margarita

Turns out I’m nicer than I thought! :)

I say this because it would have been horribly rude for me to share this ridiculously funky cocktail with you, with virtually no time to order the prickly pear syrup online.

And, guys – funky is a good thing. Funky is like, the best, actually.

{At least, in Daniel and I’s sick and twisted universe}

Prickly pear margaritas! TELL ME you’ve been lucky enough to try one (several?) in your day. I’m pretty sure they’re becoming a thing at restaurants now … or maybe they always have been, but I’m just now noticing. They serve ‘em at this place called Canyon here in Fort Lauderdale – hands-down, my favorite restaurant in the city. I actually become angry when I speak to someone who lives here and they haven’t been. Inexcusable!

It’s one of those, well, it’s not really hole-in-the-wall because I think it’s a little nicer than that, but you know, teeny-tiny, no reservations, might have driven by it hundred times and never noticed it types of places with food that is nothing less than orgasmic. I’m not even kidding, everything on their Southwest fusion menu at any given time is FACE. MELTING. If you’re ever in the area, you should probably check it out. (And don’t forget to call me to join you!)

No reservations is a particularly important part of the deal, because no reservations means you have to wait at the bar for a very long time. And you know what that means: Cocktails! And better than that, we’re talking one must-have signature cocktail that everrryyyyone gets. I really am unsure as to whether they serve anything other than these prickly pear margaritas, because I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything else being drank. Yes, even your manliest dude will be caught drinking these, and happily.

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One day, if I ever own my own company or have any say in the schedule of another life’s work, National Margarita Day will be an official holiday. Mark my words.

And I don’t know about you, but for me that means we’ll also have the following day off.

On second thought, I’m thinking we should make it National Margarita Week altogether. There are just too many delicious variations on this all-time favorite cocktail of tequila and citrus, and we need time to celebrate them all.

For now, we can start with this insanely perfect Meyer lemon version. I truly now believe that Meyer lemons were put on this Earth for the purpose of dirty dancing with tequila and orange liqueur. This cocktail would be entirely perfect on its own stopping right there, as the Meyer lemons already strike that perfect balance needed for margarita-making; if you’re unfamiliar with Meyer lemons, they are thought to be a cross between lemon and a mandarin or orange – and so that is what makes them perfect for a margarita…they provide that extra sweetness needed for balancing the tangy-ness of the lemon.

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champagne {margarita} brunch.

December 28, 2011 — 3 Comments

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?

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If I told you that these margaritas had Daniel and I fervently dancing in our living room on a Sunday afternoon, would you be more or less inclined to make them?

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I’m assuming the answer is more, because we’re friends – and we’re into the same kind of things.

Either way, you simply must try these margaritas. I’m really hoping you’re into mango – because it’s kind of an important component.

Purée fresh mango with a bit of lime juice and then mix it with the standard margarita ingredients: Tequila and orange liqueur. Add a drizzle of agave for sweetness – and then the secret ingredient, grapefruit soda. I have no idea why it works here, but it does. Brilliantly.

If you have leftover mango purée, freeze it. I did – and I’m quite happy about it.

And then, there’s the chili salt. Sounds fancy, right? Chili powder, meet Kosher salt. Get to know each other – because you’re a great combination. And why not invite a little sugar to the party? All together, these three ingredients balance each other perfectly.

I’m telling you: You will *love* these margaritas.

If you like mango… And tequila. I really hope you do like tequila. That’s important if we’re going to continue to be friends.

Mango Margaritas with Chili Salt

Adapted from David Yan via Food & Wine

  • 2 fresh mangoes, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 4 limes, plus 1 to cut into wedges for serving
  • 1 cup grapefruit soda
  • 1 cup good silver tequila
  • 1/2 cup orange liqueur
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons agave nectar {depending on how sweet you like it}
  • 3 cups ice

Chili Salt:

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 lime wedge from above

To make the chili salt, combine first three ingredients on a small plate. Take a small lime wedge and rub it onto the edges of your margarita glasses. Now, dip the rim of each glass into the plate of chili salt.

Purée the cut up mangoes and the juice of two limes in a blender. Pour mango purée into a container, leaving one cup of the purée in the blender. Juice two more limes into blender, and add the rest of the ingredients. Blend and pour into salted glasses.

Depending on the size of the mangoes you use, you may have extra purée. If you have an extra cup, you can freeze it and save it for another batch. If you have less, I’d probably just add it to the pitcher once there is room and then add other ingredients accordingly for another batch.

Makes approximately 6 servings.