From time to time, I will share a garden-inspired and kitchen-tested adult beverage recipe with you. All will feature either in-season produce you can pick up at the grocery store, or, when we’re lucky enough, from our own gardens. I’m kicking off this ‘Garden to Glass’ collection with this newfound favorite, the Tangerine Margarita.
Tangerine Margaritas with fresh squeezed tangerine and lime juices, Cointreau, and Sauza Conmemorativo Tequila.
Fruit-inspired margaritas have divine potential when made with fresh ingredients and top quality liquor. Unfortunately, they can be hard to come by at your average bar or restaurant. Nine times out of ten, you’ll get little more than a colorful glass of high fructose corn syrup, a hint of nail polish remover, and a long lasting stomache ache. This here recipe is one good reason to stay home tonight and treat yourself to what a real fruit margarita should be. Light, tangy, refreshing, and so rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, you can even call it healthy!
THE RECIPE:
Fills two ice-filled jumbo margarita glasses
1 cup fresh-squeezed tangerine juice (about 3 ½ medium tangerines – save the remaining ½ for garnish)
½ cup fresh-squeezed lime juice (about 4 ½ small limes – again, save the remaining ½ for garnish)
¼ cup Cointreau
½ cup Sauza Commemorativo Tequila
Juice your fruit using whatever means available to you. Combine all liquids with some ice in a martini shaker or a wide-mouth nalgene bottle with an easy-sipper lid. Shake vigorously. Pour into ice-filled, salted margarita glasses. Garnish and fall in love again!
BARETENDER TIPS:
The quality of your liquor will make or break a fresh mixed drink. It can also be the difference between skipping off to bed with your lover versus curling up on the couch with Letterman and a bottle of tums. Jose Cuervo and Triple Sec are NOT substitutes for Sauza and Cointreau. Although the initial investment in a good bottle of booze can be steep, you’ll quickly realize that a.) it’s worth your pleasure, and b.) drinking top-shelf at home is cheaper than drinking the rail at any bar. These (note: fabulous!) margaritas cost me exactly $5.21 each to make at home. It’s tough to find a $5.00 margarita these days, and I’d say virtually impossible to get one with fresh squeezed tangerine and lime juice and top shelf liquor.
THE INSPIRATION:
Evidently, there are people out there making mega mula while the rest of us struggle just to sport a smile this weekend and keep our economic anxieties at bay.
So what’s the secret?
Alcoholic libations.
Invest in them if you want to get rich; consume them if you want a temporary feeling of economic apathy.
FACT: There are 332 fewer billionaries in the world this year according to Forbes Magazine.
Upon hearing the news on NPR this morning, I offered a sarcastic “aaaawwww” for all the billionaries turned multi-millionaries (poor things) and the $18 billion in pocket change that Bill Gates reportedly lost. I was, however, legitimately curious about the 38 new billionaires to make the list for the first time this year.
One such new billionaire is John Paul DeJoria, owner of Patron Tequila and Paul Mitchell shampoos, proving that liquor is not something we are willing to do without in the midst of a recession. (Along with that weightless boost of volume???)
While squeezing out the final few hours of my work week, my mind kept thinking about good tequila and in-season citrus. A few google searches later, and the Tangerine Margarita concept was born.
So I planned a cheap evening at home with my hubby, drank like a rich lady, and by gosh, I’m still smiling.
