I Carried a Watermelon Margarita | Dirty Dancing #FoodnFlix

We headed back to the 80's for this month's edition of Food 'n Flix with one of the best coming-of-age chick flicks of all-time, Dirty Dancing! This is one of those movies that I've seen so many times I could recite it in my sleep. I owned it on VHS, I own it on DVD, and I can't resist stopping to watch it when I come across it while flipping channels on TV. Plus, the soundtrack! I had it on tape and remember listening to one side and flipping it over in my walkman...or dual cassette deck stereo with record player...time and time again.

Lemon-Lime Margarita Creamsicles

This one's for all the adults out there, doing their best to survive the hot summer sun. Whether you're having a cook-out, relaxing by the pool, or doing some sweaty yard work, you deserve a little frozen glory on a stick that's made just for you.

In case you're wondering what "frozen glory on a stick" is, well...it's an icy cold popsicle that is sweet and creamy and tangy and boozy ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Kids shouldn't be the only ones running around with sticky chins, hands, arms and permagrins without a care in the world. You know, for at least a solid five minutes...because that's about how long it takes before those cares come rushing back full-force. It's a magnificent five minutes, though.

These boozy pops feature the new Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Margaritas. What are these margaritas I speak of? Well, after doing her research (aka testing all of the pre-made and ready-to-serve margaritas and cocktails on the market) and finding it hard to name one that consistently tasted great, Sandra Lee decided to develop her own line. Available in key lime and strawberry flavors, they are infused with real fruit, pure cane sugar, premium blue agave silver tequila, triple sec liqueur, and other natural flavors.

Raspberry Lemonade Margarita

Cocktails! It's all about the cocktails! When Leslie and I were talking about what we should make for she made, ella hace this month, I suggested either going with a lemons theme or a cocktails theme. Either way, I already knew what I was making. A margarita - with a twist!

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, so of course I need to test out a few new margarita flavors.  Now, I should tell you that last week I received a delivery that contained a few samples of Partida tequila for the purposes of joining in the #limepocalypse that's happening in the US right now.

Tamarind Margarita + 24 more Margarita recipes for National Margarita Day!

I love celebrating National holidays. You know, things like Independence Day, Memorial Day, National Garlic Day (my favorite), National Pecan Sandy Day, National Blueberry Pancake Day, National Empanada Day, National Whiskey Sour Day, National Oranges and Lemons Day, and National Strawberry Shortcake Day. Important holidays like those*.

Today just so happens to be a National holiday, one that I take very seriously, National Margarita Day. I'd throw a party in honor of it, complete with a concoct-your-own-Margarita Bar, if I had the space. Or the ability to fly all of my friends and family to a toasty beach to spend the day.

While I may not have the ability to do that (yet), I can invite my friends over for a virtual party to celebrate National Margarita Day! And hey, that's almost as good. Maybe even better (minus the no toasty beach part) since it's like a boozy potluck. Everybody is bringing a different type of margarita. Some traditional cocktails, either on the rocks or frozen; some margarita-infused food to soak up complement the cocktails. I'll raise my glass, salted rim and all, to that!

Sparkling Pomegranate Margarita

It's pretty much tradition to welcome in a new year with fizzy drinks, the most obvious choice being champagne or sparkling wine. Lately, as I've been growing older more mature, I've been forgoing the nighttime bubbly for a little "first day of the year mimosa madness". I mean, I found myself popping the celebration cork at midnight, drinking a glass, and then immediately going to bed. What a waste of bubbles.  Thus, my tradition began.

But this year, I decided that there was absolutely nothing wrong with popping that cork earlier in the evening. I was in the mood for margaritas, actually.  I'd received some samples of Partida tequila and was eager to give them a try.  So, I thought, why not combine the two?

Though all of the varieties were nice for their own reasons, I was drawn towards the Añejo to use in the margaritas for its nose of cherries and dried fruit with undertones of chocolate. It would make the perfect partner for the bold pomegranate and silky Licor 43.

Orange-Vanilla Margaritas {she made, ella hace + National Margarita Day}

AS IF I needed a reason for drinking margaritas, today is National Margarita Day!  Naturally, I'm taking advantage of it.  I feel like I've become quite the lush lately.  Those who have known me for a long time are rolling their eyes and saying "lately?".  Shhhhhhh.

Back to the matter at hand.  National Margarita Day.  Is there any better day for Leslie and I to choose to hang out together for she made, ella hace?  Me thinks not.  Me thinks it's the perfect day.  Me thinks it's time to slow down on the margaritas so that saying "me thinks" isn't so hilarious.

Now, I have quite a few margarita memories.  Some good, some hazy, one or two I'd rather not remember. This is what happens when you're working as a cocktail waitress in a Mexican restaurant at the tender age of 21.  It was a time of margarita madness.  Now, these days I prefer my margaritas on the rocks, but back then, it was frozen margs 95% of the time - they're one of the things that restaurant is most famous for.  Everyday lime and strawberry are on the menu, and every day there is at least one "flavor of the day".  Cherry was probably my favorite.  Plus, you could get a swirl...like an ice cream cone...in a glass.  Or a mug.  Better yet, a pitcher.  

Sitting alongside of basket of just-fried tortilla chips and bowls of salsa, house-made ranch, and guac - there's not much more you could ask for.  It also made (makes) for a great girls night out!  (Come on over ladies!)

In honor of National Margarita Day, I toyed with making a batch of frozen margs and regaling you with tales of yesteryear.  But in the end, I decided that I really wanted one on the rocks.  Plus, I wanted to use my brand-spankin' new bottle of Casa Noble and incorporate another new favorite, Licor 43, into it.  In my mind, I imagined a creamsicle-like flavor (Licor 43 has notes of vanilla)...and if you close your eyes and imagine a creamsicle while you take a sip, you'll probably taste it.

But what you'll notice first and foremost, is the recognizable flavor of a margarita.  Please use good tequila - it makes all the difference in the world.

As often happens, Leslie and I were riding the same wavelength this month - we both chose orange as our main margarita component.  Sure, we chose margaritas, but the orange part was pure coinkidink!  So when you're done here, you'll want to check out Leslie's Orange Margaritas w/ Lime & Chile.

Orange-Vanilla Margaritas

by Heather Schmitt-González

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Cook Time: n/a

Keywords: beverage oranges alcohol tequila Mexican

Ingredients (2-4 cocktails)

• 1 c. tequila
• 1 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
• ½ c. Licor 43
• ¼ c. freshly squeezed lime juice
• splash of pure vanilla extract
• simple syrup or agave nectar, optional (to taste)

extras

• coarse salt or sugar
• orange slice or wedge
• ice

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients for the margarita in a large glass measuring cup (or a pitcher or very large jar). Stir to combine.

Rub a cut orange or lime wedge around the rim of a glass (or glasses) to wet, then overturn into a small plate filled with salt or sugar to coat.

Add ice cubes and pour margarita over them. Garnish with an orange wheel or wedge. Enjoy!

notes:

I like my margarita less sweet, so I do not use the extra sweetener. Licor 43 adds a bit of sweetness, so I suggest waiting to add any extra until after you've combined the other ingredients and given it a try.

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What happens when two American girls who are both married to Mexican guys find out that although one of them lives in the U.S. and one of them lives in Mexico, they both love eating the same food?  Well, naturally they decide to get "together" the only way they can and cook up the same dishes.  Or perhaps take the same ingredients and talking about them in their own voice or using them in their own way. 

Leslie and I have teamed up to occasionally cook/bake/make a our own versions of the same food.  We want to see how similar (or how different) they turn out.  Other times we will pick an ingredient and use it however we choose...or maybe just talk about it.  Good food knows no borders and we hope to share the food we love with you.  It's not a competition, it's a showcase.  We will post on the same day as each other and would love to hear your thoughts on what we've made and how you make it. 

Join me (here at girlichef) and Leslie in her kitchen (at La Cocina de Leslie) for some delicious food.

El Beso de Luz Margarita + @Casa_Noble Tequila {I'll Drink to That}

Okay.  So.  Over the years, I've had mixed feelings about Valentine's Day.  Growing up, I loved decorating paper lunch sacks with cut-out hearts of all shapes, sizes, and colors.  I loved taping it to the side of my desk and hoping it would fill up nicely.  I loved sliding my own Valentine's into other people's bags.  It was fun.

Fast forward a few years and perspective starts to shift.  Valentine's were a bit more coveted.  I always hoped I wouldn't be the one to get to the end of the school day without a cheesy carnation in my hand.  At least one.  You remember, right?  If it just so happened that you were not "going with" somebody that year, you conspired with your girlfriends to plunk down the couple of dollars it took to send each other a carnation.

And then there was collage.  Basically, Valentine's Day could come and go and I didn't even realize it.  There was one year when I made a huge batch of THE BEST sugar cookies on the face of the planet.  I cut them out in the shape of hearts.  I topped them with white, pink, and red frosting. And a few sprinkles here and there.  I shared them with cute boys.  This was when we no longer lived in the dorms.  I shared an apartment with three friends (♥ Kel...Bren...Gina - miss u guys).  And then I promptly lost (threw away?) the recipe for those cookies and have regretted it for approximately 16 years since.  I've never made another sugar cookie recipe that good.

I mean, as I got older, I always thought of it as a "Hallmark Holiday".  But that didn't mean that I didn't want something pretty...or chocolaty...to go along with it.  So, do you know what I did?  Stay with me here, it's a doozy.  I decided that getting married on Valentine's Day was the perfect plan.  We I We would actually have a reason to celebrate LOVE on February 14th.

Plus, who can forget that date?  I was making it easy on my husband.  Never would he have to scramble to get me a gift or wish me a happy anniversary because he forgot our anniversary until the last minute.  Nope, he'd have constant reminders every time he turned around for at least a month before the date -  and not even from me... from the television and billboards and stores that he would pass by anyway.

I told you it was a doozy.  Pretty smart though, huh?  Yes, these days I join in the celebration of love not (only) because it's Valentine's Day, but because it is my wedding anniversary.

Wanna know a sexy way to spend the day?  Or maybe just the evening... or the afternoon... whatever?  Put on some vinyl (record, not pants please) and sip a margarita.  Preferably a little Santana.  On both fronts.  Santana album.  Carlos Santana tequila.

El Beso de Luz Margarita (Kiss of Light Margarita)

by Heather Schmitt-González

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: n/a

Keywords: beverage alcohol blood orange orange tequila Mexican

Ingredients (1 cocktail)

• 2 oz. Casa Noble Crystal Tequila
• ½ oz. Licor 43
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
• ¼ of an orange (regular or moro)

Instructions

Combine Casa Noble Crystal Tequila, Licor 43, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with an ice cube. Shake vigorously.

Pour into a glass, over ice, if you wish. Squeeze the orange over the top and then drop it into the cocktail. Enjoy.

This cocktail recipe comes from Casa Noble Tequila and was used with permission.

         "Not only is tequila an aphrodisiac, but Carlos Santana likened his first warm taste of El Beso de Luz to the first time one falls in love. In fact, he was so moved by it that he gave the cocktail its name, a tribute to his wife Cindy."

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my thoughts...
     -Casa Noble Crystal Tequila: smooth, sexy, very sippable, perfect alone or in a cocktail.  New favorite tequila.
     -Licor 43: slightly sweet with hints of vanilla and citrus.  Loved it.  Need a big bottle.
                                                                                 ...loved both separately and together.


I received a teeny-tiny sample-size bottle of each Casa Noble Crystal and Licor 43 so that I could try this cocktail. All opinions stated in this post are my own.

Blood Orange Margarita

Not that you need an excuse to chill with a tasty cocktail, but since today is Cinco de Mayo, we'll go ahead and name that as the reason for enjoying one before noon.  I think I've mentioned before that the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in our family mostly revolve around birthdays!  My youngest son was born today.  My mom was born today.  One of my nephews was born today.  Celebrate!

I know, I know.  You're probably saying "but your husband is from Mexico..." (you're totally saying that, right?).  True.  But he is not from Puebla, and Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional celebration celebrating the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

That said, we do live in America and here we like to throw fiestas and consume many plates of Mexican food and many glasses and bottles of Mexican cocktails and beer on this day.  Our town even has an annual event with traditional dance and music to accompany the food.  It is really a celebration of Mexican heritage.

So, for whatever reason you choose to celebrate today...you might as well do it with style.  And carrying out a pitcher of these jewel-hued margaritas would definitely qualify.  Salud!

Blood Orange Margaritas

by Heather Schmitt-González

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: n/a

Keywords: beverage blood orange alcohol Cinco de Mayo Day of the Dead Christmas Mexican

Ingredients (6-9 cocktails)

margarita

• ⅔ c. fresh lime juice
• ¼ c. superfine sugar
• ¾ c. water
• 1 c. silver tequila
• ½ c. Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 2 c. freshly squeezed blood orange juice (or store-bought, if you like)

to finish

• lime half
• coarse salt and/or superfine or coarse sugar
• ice cubes

Instructions

In a large pitcher, stir together the lime juice, sugar, and water until sugar has dissolved. Mix in tequila, cointreau (or triple sec), and blood orange juice. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, ~1 hour.

Moisten the rims of your glasses with the cut side of a lime. Spread coarse salt and/or one of the sugars (on separate plates) and upend the glasses to crust the rims.

Next, you can finish up one of two ways. Either fill a cocktail shake ~¾ full of ice and add ~1½ c. of mixture to it. Shake and pour into glasses. Or you can simply shake the mixture around in the pitcher and bit and pour it over ice in your glasses to drink it on the rocks. Really this depends on the type/size of glasses you're using. Either way...ENJOY!

notes:

Obviously freshly squeezed blood orange juice is going to taste the best and give you the best, deepest color for your cocktail. Unfortunately, blood oranges aren't always readily available everywhere. The ones I found this time were on the tail-end-out and didn't contain much juice. So I bought a jug of blood orange juice to use in their stead. I really wanted some. It still tastes pretty fantastic, but the color isn't as brilliant.

adapted from Fiesta at Rick's

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IHCC theme: Cinco de Mayo

Minty Watermelon Frozen Margaritas

How ironic is it that my first ever BSI (Blogger Secret Ingredient) entry is during the week featuring watermelon? You see, I do NOT like watermelon. Weird, right? But, I figured I could cover up the flavor...or perhaps it's the lack of flavor that I don't really care for...with tequila. I mean, I like tequila. What's a little watermelon if there's tequila involved?

I believe I may have been in withdrawal lately...it's been waaaaaaay too long since I last had a margarita. I used to go out for margarita's with a friend of mine a couple times a month. Then, she lost her job, hubby lost his job, we moved...time passed and we both have had so much on our plates (but not in our glasses...wink, wink).

We've finally set a date to meet over margaritas, but since that's a few weeks out, I decided I'd make some at home. Hubby is over here, at this precise moment saying I don't understand why you don't like this (he's eating watermelon) and you DO like the margarita. Um, tequila. Duh. Insert eye roll. I wanted to add some mint, just for sh*ts & giggles, so...I made up a little mint simple syrup first.

Minty Simple Syrup

1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 small handful mint leaves

Place everything in a small pan over med-high heat. Bring to boil. Stir to make sure all sugar is dissolved. Turn off and remove from heat. Let cool. Strain out mint leaves and store in an airtight container in fridge.
Minty Watermelon Frozen Margaritas
yield: ~3

Watermelon, seedless- (~1/8th of a watermelon cut in chunks) to yield 1 c. juice
Minty simple syrup- 1/4 c.
Fresh squeezed lime juice- 1/4 c. (~2 small limes)
Tequila- 1 c.
Triple Sec- 1/3 c.
ice cubes- 1 c. for runny margaritas/ 3 or more cups for frozen margaritas

First, place watermelon chunks into blender and very carefully pushing down with wooden spoon, pulse until watermelon becomes watery. Once enough water is in blender to flow freely, blend it all up into a liquid. If you have more than 1 c. of watermelon juice in the blender, remove the extra (save for another batch).


Add the rest of the ingredients and blend. Run a lime wedge around rim of glass and dip in either coarse salt or raw sugar. Cut a garnish if you like. Pour into prepared glasses and enjoy!



I'm sending this over to Kim at The Ungourmet for my first entry into BSI (Blogger Secret Ingredient)! Tootles...off to drink another margaritas. Hmmm, maybe watermelon's not so bad afterall.