Wasting Away In Margaritaville...

Sometime between the mid 1930's and the mid to late 1940's a bartender or bar owner came up with the idea of a classic and time honored Mexican cocktail. The stories around who created it are as varied as the ingredients used to make it. What drink am I referring to? The answer should be obvious by now, today we are bringing home the goodness that is the MARGARITA!!

Just like last weeks' piece on rum based drinks, this free-form Wednesday article is about more Summer Cocktail fun. I have done some research, sampled some goods and happily will relate to all some of the results. Research for this daunting task was not easy and considering the different flavors now infused within various alcohols, I found out that while the classic Margarita is made with a Tequila base some of today's wilder creations in fact have none. My recipes below though, have no fear, all contain Tequila

Making a regular or frozen Margarita is extremely simple and by using some quick time savers such as juice concentrates which are available at the local supermarket, you can quickly create a frozen drink that will chase away a stressful day of work or finish off that fantastic beach weekend.

Let's take a look at some fantastic recipes which are full of flavor and simple to make. Margaritas are also served with salt or sugar rimming to the outside of the glass. The salt and sugar are available in your local supermarket as well as wherever you purchase the all important tequila!! To rim the glass, take a lime wedge and place a small slice directly in the middle of the fruit. The slice goes over the rim and rub it all around the rim of whichever glass you are serving in. While the glass is still wet roll the rim through the salt or sugar until it is well coated.

~ Frozen Blue Margarita ~

Serves 5-8

1 Can Frozen Limeade Concentrate, 6 ounce size

6 oz Tequila

4 oz Blue Curacao Liqueur

Combine all the ingredients into a blender. Add ice until it is filled to about the 5 cup line. Blend until smooth

~ Frozen Strawberry Margarita ~

Serves 1-2

2 oz Cointreau Liqueur

1 oz Tequila

1/2 oz Agave Syrup

3 Strawberries, cut into quarters without the tops

1 Lime, make sure it is fresh and squeeze out the juice

Combine all the ingredients into a blender along with ice. Blend until smooth.

 

 

 

~ Frozen Tropical Fruit Margarita ~

Serves 8-10

4 Oranges, slice into quarters and squeeze out the juice

2 Lemons, slice into quarters and squeeze out the juice

2 Limes, slice in half and squeeze out the juice

1/2 Cup Fine Sugar

2 oz Cointreau

2 oz Triple Sec

12 oz Tequila

~ Frozen Watermelon Margarita ~

Serves 4-6

6 Cups Watermelon, remove rind and cut into 1/2 cubes. Place in freezer for at least 3 hours

8 oz Tequila

4 oz Lime Juice

1/4 cup Fine Sugar

This recipe is different from other other frozen recipes due to the freezing of the watermelon. It uses no ice, instead the frozen fruit is what adds the flavor and the thickness. Simply put, all of the ingredients go directly into the blender and you are done.

 

 

~ Chambord Margarita ~

1 oz Tequila

1 oz Chambord

1/2 Cointreau

3 oz Sweet & Sour Mix

Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and serve over ice in a Margarita glass.

 

~ Margarita ~

This is a single serving and puts a little twist on the classic recipe. I like this one just because it isn't quite like all the rest. That being said, make sure you have a good salt for the rim!

1 oz Fresh Lime Juice

2 tsp Fine Sugar

3/4 oz Cointreau

2 1/2 oz Tequila

In a cocktail shaker, combine all the ingredients with ice and shake vigorously for a good 30 seconds. You want to mix the sugar and even let the ice break apart a little bit. Strain the drink into a glass with fresh ice.

 

 

 

 

So that's all I have time for today and it was a short stay here in Margaritaville...If you have a favorite summer cocktail I would love to hear about it. Drop me a line via email at info@teachingyoutocook.com or feel free to leave it in the comments section. Have a fantastic day and remember, if you are enjoying some flavors of summer do it responsibly!!