Margaritas

What better way to end our Mexican food journey than with a margarita!  Like the guacamole, I wanted to learn what comprises the basic margarita: lime, tequila, orange liqueur and ice.  You can get fancy and add flavorings like watermelon, orange, mango, pomegranate, jalapeno…  The primary decision is on the rocks or frozen.  I like mine frozen – an adult version of the Slurpee.  You can experiment with the decor such as adding salt to the rim or colored sugar. As you experiment, each one will get more interesting, especially as the night goes on.

I served this Barefoot Contessa frozen margaritas at a school end of year celebration. Let's just say we had some happy volunteers and it was a good thing that they were not driving carpool until the next morning.

As you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, also raise your glass to everyone riding the MS150 this weekend.  Many friends ride on the Feisty Devils Cycling Team.  They and thousands of others train, ride and raise money to fund research to treat and eventually cure Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and to provide services for those with MS. 

MS is a progressive neurological disorder that affects people in many different ways. It could be paralysis one day, loss of vision the next or impaired memory the day after that. Living with MS means living with uncertainty.  Another American is newly diagnosed every hour of every day. 

To learn more about the Feisty Devils or to donate to their team, please visit the Feisty Devils web page.

Ingredients:

Margaritas

1.      1 lime, halved  

2.      Kosher salt

3.      ½ C freshly squeezed lime juice (5 limes)

4.      1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon)

5.      1 C Triple Sec

6.      1 C white tequila

7.      3 C ice, plus extra for serving

On the rocks:

If you like margaritas served in a glass with salt, rub the outside rims of 6 glasses with a cut lime and dip each glass lightly into a plate of kosher salt.

Combine the lime juice, lemon juice, Triple Sec, tequila, and ice in a blender and puree. Place extra ice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with margarita mix, shake well, and strain into glasses.

Frozen:

If you prefer frozen margaritas, halve each of the ingredients, double the ice, and blend in two batches. Serve with a cut lime.

Notes: Recipes vary in proportions of tequila: orange liqueuer : lime juice including 1:1:1/2, 1:1/2:1/3, and 1:1/4:3/4 so mix based on the flavor that you want to achieve.  What is consistent is the recommendation to purchase a good tequila, in particular one that is 100% agave.  There are other variations to choose from based on the age of the tequila: silver/blanco/white tequilas are unaged, then there is reposado and anejo (aged).  Most recipes I found called for silver/white/blanco.  And for the last component, you can select the orange liqueur from brands like Triple Sec, Cointreau and Gran Torres.