Tropical Margaritas

Yesterday was a big day for celebrations.  We celebrated Cinco de Mayo for lunch, Derby for dinner, and then followed that up with a special book signing in the evening.  It was a day full of good fun, margaritas, tacos, wine, mint juleps, ham, biscuits, and books.  Not to mention, the moon sure was gorgeous last night, wasn't it?

A frozen margarita is my all-time favorite drink.  I had my heart set on making a mango margarita, but couldn't find any mangoes in my market.  I did find a frozen mix of tropical fruit that included mango, pineapple, and strawberry and decided that was the next best option.  I ended up adapting one of Bayless' margarita recipes with my frozen tropical mix for a toned done version. This is one delicious and refreshing margarita.  It goes down easy.  Too easy.

Tropical Margaritas

Loosely adapted from Fiesta at Rick's

by Rick Bayless

Serves 8-9

3/4 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed

1/4 cup sugar (1/2 cup if you like it sweet)

3/4 ice cubes

1 cup tequila

1/2 cup cointreau or Grand Marnier

2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

1 (16 oz.) bag of frozen fruit (mine was mango, pineapple & strawberry)

lime half for moistening glass rims (optional)

coarse salt for the rim of glass (optional)

In a blender, mix the lime juice, sugar,  3/4 c. ice cubes, tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, and frozen fruit until well blended.  Pour into glasses and serve.  Garnish with fruit if you like.

If you like salt on the rim of your glass, moisten the rims of three 6-oz. martini glasses w/ the cut side of a lime half. Spread coarse salt on a small plate, then dip the glasses into the salt to crust the rims.  Pour blended mixture into glasses and serve.

Theme: Cinco de Mayo