Fresh Orange Margarita

I love a good margarita and making it with fresh squeezed juice is the way to go.  I make this batch for Kevin and I but if making for more I'll double or triple.  It's nice to make these ahead and squeeze all the juice that way the mess is out of the way.  Sometimes, instead of using regular oranges, I'll juice blood oranges, clementines, **red grapefruit and even use can **pineapple juice in place of the orange juice.  It's just a great basic, fresh tasting margarita.

Makes 4 small glasses 

INGREDIENTS:

Kosher salt, for the glass rim

8 oz (1 cup) freshly squeeze orange juice

4 oz (1/2 cup) freshly squeezed lime juice

2 oz (1/4 cup) Triple sec

4 oz (1/2 cup) Silver, Anejo or Reposado tequila (*use a good quality)

2 tablespoons sugar (use less to taste)

Ice cubes

METHOD:

1.  Rim the glasses with salt.

2.  In a pitcher combine the orange juice, lime juice, triple sec, tequila and sugar.  Stir well until the sugar dissolves.  Can make ahead and keep in fridge until ready to serve.

3.  Fill the glass with ice and pour the margarita over.  Enjoy!   

*I really like Patron tequila but lately for the price we've been buying the Costco Kirkland brand and like it a lot.  

**If using pineapple juice use less sugar and if using grapefruit juice you may need to use more sugar.

Summer Beer

This cocktail is perfect for the summer.  You can keep all the ingredient on hand and make it in a snap.  So easy too, just pour it all into a pitcher and serve over ice.  I've tried this with other beers but Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy is the best.

1 (12 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
2 (12 fluid ounce) Leinenkugel's summer shandy bottle beer
12 fluid ounces vodka
crushed ice

In pitcher pour in the lemonade concentrate, beer and vodka. Stir until combined. Pour over crushed ice.

Makes 4-6 servings

Favorite Margarita

 Happy Cinco De Mayo!
These Margaritas are my favorite because the pineapple juice cuts the sour of the lime and sweetens the drink perfectly. If there is any extra just freeze it, it doesn't freeze solid because of the liquor and it's ready for you whenever you want a margarita. Even better make up a few batches ahead of time and freeze.  

Ingredients: tequila, triple sec, limeade, pineapple juice and ice

If you want salt, use a lime sliceo go around glass rim to moisten and dip in salt (kosher).

Blend all the ingredients in blender and serve. These went great with the guacamole I made today!

Ingredients:

12 ounces Frozen limeade concentrate, undiluted

3/4 cup Tequila (Jose Cuervo)

1/4 cup Triple Sec

6oz can Dole pineapple juice

Ice cubes

Lime slices

Directions:
Rub rim of cocktail glass with wedge of lime. Place salt (I like to mix salt and sugar) in saucer; spin rim of each glass in salt (Optional). Set prepared glasses aside. Combine limeade concentrate, tequila, and Triple Sec and pineapple juice in container of an electric blender. Add enough ice cubes to fill blender; blend well. Pour beverage into prepared glasses; garnish with a slice of lime, if desired. 

Fruit Smoothies

I love fruit smoothies! Easy to make and packed with good things that taste so good on a hot summer day.



frozen pineapple
frozen peaches
frozen mangos
frozen blueberries, strawberries
Yoplait Original Tropical Peach (99% fat free) or any flavor you like
Dole 100% Orange, Peach and Mango juice



I don't measure the ingredients out because then it wouldn't be a fun easy recipe. All you do is for two large (4 small) servings is fill blender half way with each fruit. You can pick and choose the fruit or use all the above. Adding a banana is also good. Add 1-2 cartons of yogurt and juice. Add juice as you need it to make the fruit smoothie nice and thick.

Hint: Don't over crowd the blender. It only takes minutes to have another batch done. I use a Kitchen Aid Blender and it works great, smooth with no lumps.