Margaritas baby!!!

I realized the other day that I am always posting recipes for food but not for drinks. Summer just screams MARGARITAS!! They are the perfect drink to get a summer party going. The secret to making a good margarita is starting with good tequila. It can make a big difference in how your margarita will taste. Try experimenting with different flavored juices and purees. Another cool idea is making your own flavored salts and sugars for rimming the glasses.

Classic Margarita

2 oz. gold tequila
scant oz. triple sec
1 oz. fresh lime juice
lime wedge to garnish
Salt to rim the glass

Add tequila, triple sec and lime juice to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a frosted margarita glass rimmed with salt and garnish with a lime wedge.

For the frozen version, add tequila, triple sec and lime juice to a blender. Add 1 scoop of crushed ice and blend for 20 to 30 seconds. Pour into a margarita glass.

Mangorita

2 oz. gold tequila
scant oz. triple sec
scant oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. mango puree

Add all the ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a frosted margarita glass.

Pinarita

2 oz. gold tequila
scant oz. triple sec
scant oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. pineapple juice
Sliced pineapple wedges to garnish

Add tequila, triple sec and lime juice to a blender. Add 2 scoops of crushed ice and blend for 20 seconds. Pour into a margarita glass and garnish with pineapple wedge.

Raspberry Margarita

2 oz. gold tequila
scant oz. Cointreau
scant oz. fresh lime juice
2 oz. raspberry puree

Blend the first 3 ingredients in a blender with 2 scoops of crushed ice for 20 seconds. Pour half of the mixture into a margarita glass. Gently layer the raspberry puree on top of the margarita mixture to create a layered look. Add remaining margarita mixture over the raspberry puree.

Easy Margaritas for a Crowd

1 - 6 oz. can frozen limeade concentrate
6 oz. tequila
2 oz. triple sec

Fill blender with crushed ice. Pour in limeade concentrate, tequila and triple sec. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

Footnotes - A scant oz. is a measure slightly under a whole oz.