Archive for Margaritas

Valentine’s Day.

When you hear those two words, what is your reaction?  Do you see hearts and flowers and eagerly anticipate the holiday that you will spend with your one true love?  Perhaps you roll your eyes back and wish that you could hide under the covers all day?  Or maybe you really have no opinion about it, it just is another day of the week?

Regardless to how you feel about Valentine’s Day, there’s no reason not to have a cocktail in honor of this day.  Even if you don’t like the day, you still can enjoy a delicious cocktail.  To help you find the perfect cocktail, Parched No More has collected a dozen recipes that will appeal to those who are in love and those who feel scorned.

Check out our Valentine’s Day cocktails, decide which you like best, and then share your thoughts.  On Friday, February 12th we will announce which cocktail was the most popular and share its exact recipe.  Being two days before the holiday, you’ll have time to gather all of the ingredients and make a drink for you (and others, if you wish). (more…)

Over on Idea Offer, a request was put out for the best ideas for cocktails that have ice cream as an ingredient.  And the winning idea came from Navakanth Kanapala for his Strawberry Margarita Fizz.  Here it is as described by Navakanth:

Strawberry Margarita Fizz

Sugar for coating rims of glasses
1-1/2 cups softened strawberry ice cream
1/2 cup chopped strawberries, plus whole strawberries for garnish
1 ounce tequila, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/3 cup chilled club soda
Garnish: lime slices

Rim edges of two highball glasses with sugar, and set aside.  Place ice cream, chopped strawberries, tequila, and lime juice in a blender.  Mix until all ingredients are combined and smooth.  Divide strawberry mixture between the two glasses, and top each with half of the club soda.  Stir gently to combine.  Garnish with limes and strawberries, if desired.

Makes me want to get some ice cream and umbrellas and head to the beach!

Two weeks ago, the editors at Parched No More posted their top ten choices for Thanksgiving cocktails.  As hard as it was to narrow the list down to ten drinks, it seemed daunting to choose one favorite.  With a variety of drinks from which to choose, including martinis, a margarita, a frappe, a cider drink, an eggnog, and a wine-tail, the options seemed overwhelming.

However, polling has ended, and our readers have spoken.  We are pleased to announce that the Pumkinlicious Martini from ECO-BAR was chosen as the favorite drink for Thanksgiving.  In order to create this delicious beverage for your Turkey Day celebration, we have posted the recipe below. (more…)

With three weeks until Thanksgiving, many people have begun planning their menus:  appetizers, dinner, and dessert.  Not to be forgotten are the beverages that you serve.  While you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Chenin Blanc or Shiraz, a little mixing, shaking, and blending can infuse a little more fun into your holiday.

We solicited recipes for Thanksgiving-inspired cocktails.  Our editors have chosen their ten favorite and now are seeking our readers’ thoughts.  Which cocktail is the most tantalizing for Turkey Day?  Read their descriptions, then cast your vote.

1. Gobble-Tini- (Smirnoff Cranberry Twist, Chambord, & cranberry juice) Courtesy of SMIRNOFF

2. Pumkinlicious Martini (TRU Organic Vanilla Vodka, pumpkin spice liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Kahlua,  half-and-half, & crushed graham crackers for rimming) Courtesy of ECO-BAR

3. Maple Cinnamon Nog (Bourbon, clove & cinnamon infused maple syrup, spiced rum, egg white, & cream) Courtesy of Deborah Harris of Harbour Restaurant

4. Hot Rum Cider (apple cider, orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon, whole cloves, coriander seeds, whole nutmeg, & Zaya Rum) Courtesy of Zaya Rum

5. Carrot-Ginger Martini (Stoli Vodka, spiced rum, Stoli Vanilla, carrot juice, & ginger beer) Courtesy of Ben Provost of The American Bar at The Stafford

6. Feel Like a Holiday (vodka, raspberry eau-de-vie, & sparkling wine/champagne) Courtesy of Sara Gaum of VendorBar.com

7. Pumpkin Pie Frappe (Mount Gay Rum Eclipse, pumpkin puree, sugar in the raw, cinnamon, allspice, half-and-half, & vanilla ice cream) Courtesy of Jonathan Pogash

8. Holiday Pie (Canadian Club Classic 12, Tuaca, apple cider) Courtesy of Canadian Club

9. Autumn Side Car Wine-tail (Yellow Tail Chardonnay, brandy, agave nectar, orange slices, basil leaves, Grand Marnier, & orange twist garnish) Courtesy of Trudy Thomas

10. Pumpkin Margarita (pumpkin puree, agave nectar, lime, tequila, Crema’s signature spice blend, & white and black sesame seeds for rimming) Courtesy of Crema

 Loading ...

The winner will be announced on Thursday, November 19th!

I enjoy a margarita every once in a while.  However, I have certain preferences for this drink.  Actually, I have preferences for all drinks.  I am not a fan of the high syrup/sweetness and minimal alcohol content of the drinks served at many chain restaurant.  Not that I am seeking potent drinks, but I prefer not having a glass of corn syrup with a hint of flavoring.

Having been inspired by some of the bartenders at local restaurants we enjoy, I have come to realize that much like cooking, ingredients are an important part of a good drink.  So, when my mother-in-law told me that she wanted to try a coconut and lime margarita recipe, I asked her to share the ingredient list with me.  One of the main ingredients in her suggested drink was cream of coconut.

As I am not a fan of a heavy drink, the words “cream of coconut” gave me the shivers.  Once I saw the nutrition label on the package, I knew it was not an option for my drink.  With almost 250 calories in 2 ounces of this thick liquid, it seemed obscene.  However, the idea of coconut and lime mingling with some tequila was intriguing.  Being a diligent researcher, I created a couple different recipes until I found one with the correct balance of sweet, sour, and tequila.

Served over ice in a glass with a salted rim, this drink could fill all of your salt and sweet cravings.

Put the Lime & the Coconut in the Margarita

2 oz. gold tequila

1 oz. triple sec

1/2 – 1 tsp. sugar

2 oz. lime juice + 3 additional oz.

4 oz. coconut rum

lemon-lime seltzer

ice

kosher salt

Fill a martini shaker with ice.  Add tequila, triple sec, sugar, 2 oz. lime juice, and coconut rum, and shake well.  Pour 3 oz. lime juice in a small rimmed plate and kosher salt in another small rimmed plate.  Dip the rim of a margarita glass in lime juice, and swirl to coat well.  Then dip the rim in kosher salt, and press firmly to allow the salt to adhere.  Repeat with second glass.  Fill each glass with ice, and pour half of tequila mixture into each.  Fill to rim with seltzer, and stir gently.