margaritas

I finally got around to making the blackberry margarita I wanted to try a couple of weeks ago! I'm glad I did because it's a wonderful cocktail. It's fruity and summery, yet potent and balanced. When you try it out, don't skip the final step; the sparkling wine provides a lovely effervescence to the drink. This blackberry marg was so amazing that I will probably enjoy another one tonight. I sipped it solo, but it would be great with Mexican food or any seasonal grilled dishes, like steak with chimichurri. Learn how to prepare it after the break.

Get excited boozers, tomorrow is national tequila day! There's no better way to celebrate tequila than with a margarita. You could make classic margaritas, cranberry margaritas, jalapeño margaritas, or cherry margaritas, but since it's Summer and peaches are in season, I'm suggesting you make these sensational peach margaritas. I was a little worried that tequila wouldn't pair well with peaches and was totally surprised upon the first sip — it actually works wonderfully well! The sweetness of the peaches mellows the potent spirit. Trust me, you won't be disappointed: here's the recipe.

From cranberries to jalapenos to guavas, I've sipped a lot of experimental margaritas. While it's fun to build upon the classic combination of tequila, lime juice, and orange liquor, sometimes nothing beats the real thing. A traditional margarita on the rocks with a salted rim is one of life's little pleasures! Since it's Friday and Cinco de Mayo is next week, I highly recommend you kick start the weekend like I did, with an icy cold marg. Get the easy recipe after the break.

Cinco de Mayo is a little more than a week away, and I've got Mexican cuisine on the brain. So imagine my surprise and delight when I received a copy of a new title, Amor Y Tacos: Modern Mexican Tacos, Margaritas, and Antojitos, by Deborah Schneider. With cocktails and simple food suggestions, the small, portable cookbook focuses on the sort of party food that's perfect for Cinco de Mayo, or any other warm weather celebration. To find out if it lived up to my high party girl standards, read more

I wasn't sure what sipper I'd be serving on Super Bowl Sunday — that is, until I set foot at the bar of this year's Food Fête. I hadn't planned on drinking that Monday night, but at the Patrón bartender's request, I took a sip of his drink.

The cocktail was edgy, not too strong, and the perfect balance of sour and sweet. But I really fell for its hint of tropical fruit. Convinced as I was, there wasn't any mango involved; instead, it's the agave nectar and Citronge — Patrón's tequila answer to triple sec — that add some lush, equatorial flair to what would otherwise be a commonplace margarita.

For a nuanced classic that'll score with the game-day crowd, read more.

While I'm a fan of the classic margarita, during November, I like to enjoy its Thanksgiving-themed cousin, the cranberry margarita. It's surprising how much the addition of cranberry juice changes the flavor of the tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice cocktail. It's festive and familiar, but potent with a rich autumnal hue. Instead of craving tortilla chips and guacamole, I found myself wanting something elegant and savory. Thus, I paired the cran marg with a warm crab dip. Shake and serve straight up, or pour over ice, like I did. To check out the recipe, which is perfect for a party, read more

Since many dogs will be in attendance at Annabelle's birthday party, hostess FabSugar will be sure to place several water bowls around her backyard. These will need to be refilled frequently and I've volunteered to make sure that each bowl has water.

There will be water (both sparkling and still) for the people, too, and endless batches of icy-cold blended margaritas. This recipe uses a mixture of freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice, resulting in a drink that is wildly tart. Don't bother using the most expensive tequila, an affordable tequila works better in margaritas. To look at the recipe, read more