Tequila

I've never been drawn to premade margarita, sweet and sour, and bloody mary mixes, mostly because I can make the aforementioned from scratch. Needless to say, I was hesitant when I heard about The Perfect Purée, a Napa Valley-based company that produces a wide range of exotic fruit purées designed for combining into beverages. That is, until I tried one in a cocktail.

If you can't locate, say, white peaches, yuzu, or blood oranges in your area, this product is truly the next best thing. Unlike most other cocktail blends out there, these purées are extracted from fresh fruit and flash-frozen to preserve freshness.
At a recent tasting, this cocktail — an eclectic recipe of tequila, apple brandy, and Campari with passionfruit, pomegranate, and blood orange purée — was so enjoyable that I asked the company for the recipe. Here it is.

The tequila sunrise cocktail lives up to its moniker as a day-drinking delight. But with the wholesome OJ and eye-opening appearance also comes tequila, so approach with caution.

Layered with orange juice, grenadine, and booze for a stunning effect, the tequila sunrise is one of my favorite afternoon cocktails, bridging the gap from mimosas to more serious mixers.

With the Super Bowl coming up — and kicking off at 3:30 p.m. on the West Coast — this cocktail plays great on game day. The grenadine's sweetness is offset by the toughness of the tequila. Get the recipe.

If you hadn't noticed already, I'm a little obsessed with tequila these days. During San Francisco's Cocktail Week, I got educated on the basics of tequila by expert Ryan Fitzgerald and was swiftly convinced that there were numerous reasons why America should be drinking more tequila. But beyond that, I also garnered a number of surprising facts about the Mexican spirit. See the shocking facts — I guarantee they'll surprise you, too — when you read on.

I'm the first to admit it: while I'll enjoy the occasional shot of tequila, it's not usually the first thing I'll order when I saddle up to the bar. But at a San Francisco Cocktail Week seminar, I learned a good bit about the basics of tequila — and just how awesome the Mexican spirit can be. Here are four legit reasons why tequila is seriously underappreciated.

If you think tequila is only good in margaritas, think again! The Mexican spirit is a wonderful base for all sorts of cocktails. In this recipe, tequila is paired with sweet strawberries, tart lemons, and fragrant mint. The method is adaptable: if you prefer a strong drink, use more tequila, and if you're partial to weak beverages, add more club soda. This refreshing cooler is the perfect way to kick-start your weekend. Ready to toast with tequila? Get the recipe now.

• The history of tequila. — Salon
• Speaking of tequila, is the margarita ready to reclaim its cool status? — Grub Street NY
• Five things you don't know about Daniel Boulud, Dan Barber, and Wolfgang Puck. — The Feast
• Dunkin' Donuts is going public. — Huffington Post Food
• Must make: roasted jalapeño tomato salsa baked goat cheese. — Chaos in the Kitchen
• If you love tea, here's an app for you. — Daily Dish
• Watch a preview of PBS' new show Kimchi Chronicles. — Eater
• Learn what foods Giada de Laurentiis makes for her daughter. — Today
• What exactly is coconut milk? — Baking Bites

I love it when a recipe takes interesting ingredients that you wouldn't normally put together and turns them into something fabulous. Case in point: this cocktail! It combines tequila with white wine and ginger liqueur. The drink is incredibly balanced, surprisingly refreshing, and downright delicious. If you don't have agave nectar, substitute simple syrup. Ready for the recipe? Seriously, you've got to try this libation — it's so good I begged the bartender for the recipe so I could share it with you! He wrote it on a napkin. The photo and method after the break.

When I think of the Super Bowl, only one cocktail comes to mind: the margarita. While I've never met a margarita I didn't like, from beer to blackberry to jalapeño, my current obsession is with blood orange margaritas. Blood oranges are in season, and they give the drink a beautiful vibrant color and lovely tart flavor. I prefer my margaritas straight up or on the rocks, but if you enjoy them blended, feel free to toss the ingredients into a blender with ice. Pair with a plate of spicy chorizo nachos and let the weekend begin! Here's the recipe.