Cocktails On Me!

So it's the weekend and the best thing about the weekend is the work week is over and it's time to relax with some friends and have some cocktails.

My favorite cocktail happens to be THE MARGARITA.  My taste buds salivate over anything salty and depending on the type of margarita you get it can also be sweet or even..dare we say...SPICY!

My favorite joint in the CITY to get the best margaritas, they are so good you can't just have one, is at Richard Sandoval's MAYA on First Avenue.  The food is really amazing but I fell in love with their signature cocktail, Margarita Maya, which is composed of el jimador blanco tequila, tamarind fruit (which is a fruit common in Mexico that has a musky flavor and is sweet and sour due to the sugar and acid contents), a sour-type mix on the rocks with this wonderful salty rim of chile piquin/rock salt mix...it bites the taste buds!

Okay so when you want a really good margarita you don't have to make and it's probably made by some gorgeous bartender...so there's great eye candy involved.  But...when you just want to chill at home like I do this weekend, here are a couple of my favorite recipes.

Cucumber Margaritas

- from Coastal Living, September 2005

Reposado, one of four categories of tequila, is aged in wood barrels that lend a mellow character to the liquor. Some versions contain added flavorings and colorings.

Yield:  Makes 4 servings

12 slices fresh cucumber
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
4 ounces (1/2 cup) Cointreau
6 ounces (3/4 cup) tequila reposado
6 cups ice
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
Lime slices

Combine cucumber and next 4 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.

Pour into glasses. Top each serving with a tablespoon of Grand Marnier, and garnish with lime.

Key Lime Margarita

- from Coastal Living, May 2010

For a spicy jalapeño version, add 1 1/2 teaspoons jalapeño chile sauce to the shaker.

Preparation Time: 8 minutes minutes
Yield:  Makes 1 serving

Lime wedge
Coarse salt
2 ounces (1/4 cup) fresh Key lime juice
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) agave nectar or simple syrup
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) tequila
1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) premium orange liqueur

1. Rub rim of a rocks or margarita glass with lime wedge, then dip in coarse salt.

2. Combine Key lime juice and remaining ingredients in an ice-filled shaker. Shake vigorously, and pour into prepared glass.

Mango-Avocado Margarita

- from Cooking Light, May 2006

For extra zip, rub the rim of each empty glass with a lime wedge, then coat the rims with salt and chili powder.

Yield:  4 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

2 cups ice cubes
1 cup chopped peeled mango (about 1 large)
6 tablespoons chopped ripe peeled avocado
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup tequila
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons Triple Sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
4 lime wedges (optional)

Combine first 8 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.

Divide the mixture evenly among 4 glasses. Serve drinks with lime wedges, if desired. Serve immediately.

CALORIES 162 (22% from fat); FAT 4g (sat 1.1g,mono 2.1g,poly 0.7g); IRON 0.1mg; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 10mg; CARBOHYDRATE 23g; SODIUM 2mg; PROTEIN 1.1g; FIBER 1.7g  

As the most interesting may says "Stay thirty my friends!"

Enjoy the drinks!  

A good safety tip would be to rotate between a margarita and a glass of water! 

And let me know if you tried any of these awesome cocktails!