Cucumber-Cilantro Margarita

These cocktails were wonderful! They were the perfect way to use the delicious home grown cucumbers given to me by a friend.

This recipe was adapted from The Village Times Herald, contributed by Barbara Beltrami. Tasty and refreshing.

Yield: makes 2 cocktails

• 1 wedge or slice of lime
• coarse salt
• 3 oz tequila
• 1 tsp orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
• 3 oz freshly squeezed lime juice or key lime juice
• 1/2 cup peeled and seeded chopped cucumber
• 2 T granulated sugar
• 6 cilantro leaves, chopped
• 2 dashes Tabasco or Chipotle Tabasco
• 6 ice cubes
• 2 cucumber slices, for garnish

1. Wipe the rims of two margarita glasses with the lime wedge or slice. Dip in a shallow dish of coarse salt; set aside.
2. In a blender combine the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, chopped cucumber, sugar, cilantro, hot sauce and ice cubes; blend for one minute. (I used a Vitamix.)
3. Immediately pour into prepared glasses over ice.
4. Garnish with cucumber slices, as desired.

Apple Cider Margarita

I have seen several versions of this seasonal cocktail but I’m not sure if I need to try another one. This one is festive and fabulous. I first tried it on Halloween and now plan to incorporate it into my Thanksgiving weekend menu. Perfect! 🙂

The recipe was adapted from thehealthfulideas.com, contributed by Veronika. I used gold tequila and added maple syrup.

For the Cinnamon-Sugar Rim:

• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar 
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• A lime wedge

For the Margarita:

• 1.5 oz tequila
• 0.5 oz Cointreau 
• 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice, or more, to taste
• 2 oz apple cider
• 0.5 oz (1 T) pure maple syrup
• small dash cinnamon, optional
• 1-2 dashes orange bitters
• ice cubes
• apple and/or lime slices, for garnish, optional

To Make the Rim:

1. Combine the turbinado sugar and cinnamon on a small plate.
2. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it in the sugar. Set aside.

To Make the Margarita:

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, add a handful of ice, and shake for 10-15 seconds until it’s very cold to touch. 
2. Pour into a margarita glass (or another glass of choice) over ice.
3. Garnish with an apple and/or lime slice, if desired, and enjoy!

Simple Strawberry Cocktails

After picking eight heaping quarts of beautiful strawberries, I had to try a couple of new strawberry cocktails. I must say that it is difficult to make a strawberry cocktail that I would prefer to my favorite Strawberry-Basil Martini and (close second) The Union Square Strawberry Cocktail. Thankfully, we had plenty of strawberries and beautiful evenings to be able to enjoy all of them! 🙂

Both of these cocktails are incredibly simple and quick to prepare. The first is a Strawberry Gin & Tonic- perfect because one of my favorite summer cocktails is a classic gin and tonic. The recipe is from hometoheather.com. The second is a Spicy Strawberry Margarita. My husband made it as a celebratory cocktail on my birthday. ❤ He garnished the rim of the glass with a mixture of coarse salt and chile powder. The recipe was adapted from vinepair.com, contributed by Natalie Migliarini. Tasty and refreshing.

Strawberry Gin & Tonic

Yield: 1 cocktail

• 1 shot gin
• 1 wedge lime
• tonic water, to fill
• 1 mashed strawberry
• lime wedge or slice, or strawberry, for garnish
• ice

1. Use a highball glass and fill about ¼ full with ice.
2. Pour the gin over the ice.
3. Add your mashed berry, squeeze the lime wedge and fill with tonic water.
4. Garnish with lime or strawberry and serve.

Spicy Strawberry Margarita:

Yield: 1 cocktail

• 1.5 ounces tequila
• 1 ounce of lime juice
• 1/2 serrano or jalapeño chile, seeded (if desired), chopped or sliced into rings
• 3 strawberries, chopped
• 1/2 ounce agave nectar
• salt and/or Tajín or chile powder, for the rim
• 1 cup ice

1. Rim a rocks glass with salt and/or Tajín or chile powder.
2. Chop peppers and strawberries and add all ingredients into shaker, shaking to chill and combine.
3. Pour chilled mixture, including the ice, into rocks glass.
4. Garnish with a fresh strawberry, if desired.

Watermelon Margaritas

I am a major fan of this pretty pink cocktail. It was very light, refreshing, and minimally sweet. Puréed watermelon is the only source of sweetness. Perfect.

This recipe was adapted from 3-Ingredient Cocktails by Robert Simonson, via The New York Times.  I did not strain the puréed watermelon and omitted the jalapeño slices. We tried it with both the cayenne and salt on the rim, and salt alone. Both were delicious. 😉

The original recipe recommends to taste and add more watermelon juice if your margarita is too boozy, and extra lime juice or even a pinch of salt if it’s too sweet.

Yield: 2 drinks

For the (optional) Salted Rim:

• 1 tablespoon coarse salt or fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon Tajín or 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne (optional)

For the Cocktail:

• ice, as needed
• 6 ounces fresh watermelon juice (from about 1 1/2 cups chopped seedless watermelon)(I used cubes from a mini watermelon)
• 2 ounces tequila, preferably blanco
• 2 ounces Cointreau
• 2 ounces fresh lime juice (from 1 to 2 large limes), rinds reserved (I used 1 1/2 limes)
• 2 to 3 thinly sliced jalapeño rounds, optional
• small slices of watermelon, for garnish, optional

1. Prepare the salted rim, if using: In a small shallow bowl or plate, combine the sea salt and Tajín or cayenne. Set aside.
2. Blend the watermelon in a Vitamix or blender; strain if desired. (I left it puréed.)
3. In a shaker filled with ice, combine the watermelon juice, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and jalapeño (if using). Shake to combine. (Note: The watermelon flavor shines brighter without the Cointreau, but the liqueur takes the drink into more traditional margarita territory. If you’d like to compare, first try the mixture without, the liqueur, then add 1 ounce of it per serving.)
4. Using one of the squeezed lime halves, run it along the rim of two margarita or rocks glasses, then dip the rims into the salt mixture.
5. Fill the glasses with ice, then strain the margaritas into the glasses. Garnish with additional jalapeño slices and/or watermelon slices. Enjoy immediately.

Blueberry Margarita

The first time I tasted this cocktail, I thought it may become my new favorite. After having it a few times now, I am sure it is my new favorite! 🙂 It was extra-special because my husband made it with our fresh-picked Long Island blueberries. This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Todd Porter and Diane Cu.

Yield: Makes 1 drink

• 2 generous tablespoons fresh blueberries
• 1 generous tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 2 ounces tequila
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Simple Syrup
• a dash of Triple Sec
• Ice
• Kosher or sea salt for rimming the glass

1. Rub the rim of a rock or margarita glass with a lime wedge. Swirl the rim through a small pile of kosher or sea salt. Add ice cubes to the glass.
2. In a cocktail shaker muddle the blueberries and lime juice until the blueberries are pulverized. Let sit for a few minutes.
3. Add the tequila, Simple Syrup, Triple Sec and a handful of ice to the shaker. Add a leftover rind or two from the limes. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds, and then strain into the salted glass.

One Year Ago:

• Frozen Blackberry Margarita

Mango Margarita

My kids and I go through cases of mangoes- fighting for the last piece. Margaritas are my favorite cocktail. You see why this is the perfect recipe, right? 🙂 Perfect for Mother’s Day! Perfect for Fiesta Friday #16 at The Novice Gardener too! I didn’t join the party last week and have to make up for it this week with two contributions. (My fabulous Mother’s Day dinner will be next….)

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by David Yan of Casa Noble Estate. We added a little bit of granulated sugar to the chile powder coating on the rim of the glass. My kids enjoyed a non-alcoholic version as well. Super tasty!

Yield: Makes 2 drinks

• 1 cup ice
• 1 lime wedge
• 3 ounces tequila
• 1 small mango—peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped (3 ounces)
• 1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp chile powder
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 2 ounces Cointreau
• 1 1/2 ounces agave nectar
• 3 ounces Italian grapefruit soda

1. Spread the chile powder and granulated sugar in a dish. Moisten the rim of a margarita glass with the lime wedge; dip the rim in the chile powder to coat.
2. In a blender, puree the mango. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour into the glass and serve.

One Year Ago:

• Tres Leche Rice Pudding

Cranberry Margarita

Per Bon Appetit, this is Thanksgiving-in-a-glass; we might make it Christmas-in-a-glass as well!! This cocktail was one of the biggest successes of our Thanksgiving celebration! We served it on Thanksgiving Eve so that I could enjoy it with everyone– it would have been too hectic (for me!) on Thanksgiving Day.

The cranberry jam used in the cocktail can be made up to 5 days in advance (wonderful) and can be made with frozen cranberries as well (a great use for leftover cranberries!). The glass rims are coated in salt, sugar, and Chinese five-spice powder which added a surprise flavor and aroma. Freshly squeezed juice is a must.

This recipe is from The Red Cat in New York City, via Bon Appetit. Great!

Yield: Serves 4  (I doubled the recipe for 6)

For the Cranberry Jam:

• ¾ cup fresh cranberries
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

For Assembly:

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1½ teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 lime wedge, plus 2 oz. fresh juice
• 4 oz. fresh orange juice
• 6 oz. tequila

To Make the Cranberry Jam:

1. Bring cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and ¼ cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and jammy, 30–40 minutes.
2. Mix in orange zest; let cool.

DO AHEAD: Jam can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

To Assemble the Cocktail:

1. Mix salt, sugar, and five-spice powder on a small plate.
2. Rub rims of Old Fashioned or Margarita glasses with a lime wedge; dip in salt mixture and fill glasses with ice.
3. For each cocktail, combine ½ oz. lime juice, 1 oz. orange juice, 1½ oz. tequila, and 2 Tbsp. cranberry jam in a cocktail shaker; fill with ice.
4. Cover and shake until outside is frosty, about 30 seconds.
5. Strain into prepared glass. (We used a metal strainer.)