Mango Margaritas

We love drinking margaritas, especially in the warmer seasons. After many tries, this is our idea of the perfect margarita.

First of all, get some margarita salt at the grocery store. It’s basically like course rock salt, but it’s a nice shape for dipping a glass rim into. You can always refill it with kosher salt when you’re running low.

Wet the outer rim with lime juice, then press it into the salt.

Remove the glass from the salt, and give it a few shakes over the sink to avoid getting loose salt all over your house. Fill the glasses with ice, and set aside.

Put a few ice cubes into a mixed drink shaker, and add:

2 shots of tequilla

1 shot of Grand Marnier (Triple Sec works too)

2 shots of mango nectar (look in the Latin Foods section of your grocery store)

3 shots of margarita mix (I like

a squeeze of lime juice to give it a nice bite

Shake the mixer well and pour into the glasses. It makes a very pretty margarita!

Serve as is or with a splash of color.

Fruit Smoothies

We’ve had a heat wave here lately, just when our air conditioning was undergoing maintenance. So anything cold has seemed like a great idea! These fruit smoothies are an easy way to make a delicious treat using fresh fruits and juices.

You will need 1 banana, 4 strawberries, 1/4 cup mango nectar, 2 tbl spoons coconut milk, 1 mango, 2 tbl spoons honey, yogurt (I used peach), sorbet, and ice. Add a shot each of vodka, tequila, and rum for a great party drink.

Combine the ingredients in a blender, adding the ice last, so you can fill the blender the rest of the way with ice.

Turn the blender on high and mix for about 4 minutes. You want a nice smooth texture without lumps of fruit and ice.

Pour into a nice tall glass, serve, and enjoy!