Drink and Be Merry

Cinco de Mayo couldn’t have fallen on a more gorgeous day. Even if it weren’t the fifth of May, I think I might be dreaming of margaritas, my feet up, a back porch and some good friends. Okay, back to the reality that is my air-conditioned office. In preparation for the festivities for which I will partake in later this evening, I found this really great margarita recipe online — and so I don’t get in trouble for searching for said really great margarita recipe during work hours, I’m going to share it with all of you. Just call me generous. Actually it’s Rick Bayless (James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality, cookbook author and the authority on all things related to Mexican cooking) whose been generous (I snagged this margarita recipe off his website). Cheers to Rick and enjoy! Oh, and be forewarned, this serves four. So either invite some friends over or make sure you have plenty of Advil and Gatorade on hand.

1 cup tequila, preferably a young silver or reposado 100 percent agave tequila (look for widely distributed ones like El Tesoro, Cuervo Tradicional, and Herradura, or search out the distinctive small production tequilas like Chamucos or Suave Patria)

1/2 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur

1/3 cup fresh lime juice, plus a little extra for moistening the rim of the glasses

A little sugar if necessary

About 1/3 cup coarse (Kosher) salt for crusting the rim of the glasses

About 3 cups medium ice cubes

In a small pitcher, combine the tequila, orange liqueur and lime. Taste and decide if you think the mixture needs to be a little sweeter or a little tangier (keep in mind that it will taste a little tangier once it’s been shaken). Add a bit more lime or a touch of sugar, if necessary.

Spread out the salt onto a small plate. Moisten the rim of four 6-ounce martini glasses with a little lime juice (if you have a cut lime, even an already-squeezed one, moisten the rims by running it around them). One by one, turn the glasses over and dip them lightly in the salt, creating a thin, even crust all around the rim.

Pour half of the margarita mixture into a cocktail shaker, add half of the ice cubes. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds (this is important to achieve the perfect strength–some of the ice needs to melt into the margarita–and the right degree of frostiness). Strain into the prepared glasses, then repeat with the remaining margarita mixture.

Source: www.fronterakitchens.com