Hello Summer, so glad you’re here!
So it is officially Summer here in central Texas. It is HOT outside. I don’t want to hear you folks in DC & NYC whining about how hot it is up there this week too. No really, hush. Yes it’s warm up there. Yes it’s 100 degrees this week for ya’ll – but we’re going to face 100 plus degree temps from this point on through mid September. Take that east coast. Ok now that I’m done alienating the east coast contingent of my blog readership, it’s time I share a refreshing cocktail recipe – ideal for beating the summer heat.
I recently took a trip down to South Padre Island for a few days of beach time, and on the way back my roommate and I picked up some produce from adorable roadside markets in the valley. It was so precious and so so so cheap. I think later this summer I’ll plan a road trip just to score some watermelons, mangos, limes etc. I’ll be sure to document the trip and share it with yall.
Anyways (worlds longest lead up to a recipe ever…) We’ve been enjoying our produce haul for a while and had just enough limes left over today to make some fresh margaritas. These took me 5 minutes to throw together when I got home from work – you should make yourself some too.
Ingredients:
Juice of 6 whole limes (from the Texas Rio Grande Valley, if you’ve got em)
1 container raspberries
2 Tbs powdered sugar
8 oz water
6 oz tequila
6 oz Cointrea, Triple Sec or Grand Marnier
Directions:
In a container with tall sides (a pint glass works great for this) squeeze the juice of six whole limes, being careful to avoid seeds. Add in one container of raspberries and the powdered sugar. You could use agave nectar if you’re apposed to powdered sugar. I was out of agave nectar. Using an emersion blender, pulse until the raspberries are mostly pureed.
Transfer the raspberry lime juice mixture to a pitcher and top off with 8 oz water. Stir to incorporate. At this point you should taste the mix to see if it is the correct sweet/tart/fresh balance. You may need to add additional water depending on how tart your limes are. This should make approximately 6-8 margaritas worth.
Fill a glass with ice and pour in 1 oz tequila and 1 oz orange liqueur. Top off with the fresh raspberry and lime juice and enjoy!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
That sounds amazing! Definitely a great summer cocktail!
Perfect summer drink!
Beautiful photo! I’ll have mine without the alcohol, please (much to my dismay).
Thanks Molly! These would be a great virgin drink – but I would bump up the sugar or agave nectar because the orange liqueur adds sweetness to the drink.
Can’t wait to try this tonight!
Yum yum YUM!
So here’s my response to the whole 100 degrees there v. here thing: In Dallas I never cared a lick what the temperature was, primarily because it never mattered. Out of my air conditioned apartment into my air conditioned car and into my air conditioned office, or other entertainment destination. And dang if all the happy hour patios didn’t have those fabulous misters for the moments I did want to be out in the elements (with a drink like this fine one in hand, of course). Honestly, it didn’t matter.
HERE, though… it matters. Because folks in East Coast cities like DC and NY don’t drive. We walk everywhere. We walk to public transportation that more often than not has an AC outage, and we walk from the train to our destination. By the time I get home from a 100-degree day, I look like I’ve just gone down a water slide. Actually, I would love a huge water slide, straight off the Metro, to prepare us for the walk home ahead. (Side question: why doesn’t a Texas bring patio misters to the East Coast? They would KILL up here, I’m telling you!)
Maggie – you’re right about Texas being better prepared for hot weather. My ribbing of you yankees is well intentioned. I remember living in NOVA when I was little and a lot of my friends didn’t have central air.