Easy Skinny Margarita

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Ever since my first trip to a local taco joint (Donkey Taqueria), I've been thinking about getting my marg on. I had a delicious, hot pink "prickly pear" margarita, and it has plagued me ever since.

In a good way.

Recently, when we had an at-home taco night, I decided it was time. Prickly pears were nowhere to be found, but I did manage to throw together something simple, healthy, and perfect for taco night.

In case you needed any more convincing, here's why you should make this margarita instead of buying store-bought mix:

• WAY LESS SUGAR. Store-bought margarita mix has 30-50 grams of sugar per glass. If you are using stevia or a sugar substitute and following this recipe, you will ring in at about 1.1grams. That means a much lower risk of waking up with a headache or getting the munchies after your second glass.
• WAY LESS CALORIES. It's hard to beat a 74 calorie cocktail. In this recipe, the calories come from the tequila itself (64 calories per shot), and the lime (10 calories per half-lime). That's it. (Note: I'm not trying to get you to count calories here, but when you make the comparison, a 300 calorie frozen margarita becomes more difficult to justify - especially if you're drinking more than one!)
• IT IS SO EASY. No blender needed. Nothing fancy required. Once you have everything out, you can throw it together in 60 seconds. Seriously, though. Try it.

Easy Skinny Margarita

Servings: 1 Per Recipe
Calories Per Serving: 74 calories

Ingredients:

• Ice
• 1 shot Tequila (I used the equivalent of 1 shot per drink, because I was prepping these in short rocks glasses - and I consume drinks rather quickly, so I try not to overload each of them with booze. If you like your margs very strong, feel free to bump that up to 1.5. And, if you are making these in a highball glass, go with somewhere in between 1 and 2 shots.)
• Juice from 1/2 Lime + 1 Lime wedge (I used the juice from 1/2 lime, plus an extra wedge to garnish, for each drink. Feel free to adjust as needed for your preferences)
• 1 tsp Stevia Syrup or 1 pack Sugar/Sugar Substitute (You can use any sugar or sugar substitute here. I used liquid stevia drops, which require about 1 tsp. If you use sugar or a granulated stevia/substitute, use one pack)
• Sparkling Water (I have used regular sparkling water, as well as cherry-lime La Croix, so feel free to experiment with anything bubbly and unflavored or mildly flavored here)

Directions:

1. Fill glass with ice. 
2. Pour tequila over the ice
3. Squeeze lime juice into the cup.
4. Add sugar substitute.
5. Top with sparkling water, stir, and serve with garnish.

Herbed Mint Grapefruit Cocktail

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I recently posted an update on what the heck I do all day as a blogger, writer, and freelance marketing consultant (try fitting that on a business card). At the end of my day, despite having just gone out with my husband to buy a case of beer, I decided to treat myself to a hand crafted cocktail.

I tend to make recipes up on the fly in life, but especially in cocktails. I never have the exact ingredients for a recipe I've found online, and I much prefer peeking in the fridge/pantry to see what I've got to work with. It's a creative challenge! 

It must have looked good, because a few of you asked me for the recipe. Here it is:

Herbed Mint Grapefruit Cocktail

Prep Time: <5 Minutes
Calories: 80
Ingredients:

• 1/4 grapefruit, cut into pieces (size does not matter, as you will be muddling them)
• 3-4 mint leaves, ripped or cut in halves or quarters
• 1 tsp chopped basil (I actually used dried basil this time, but of course fresh is best!)
• 1 tsp stevia, sugar, sugar substitute (or 3 drops Nunaturals Liquid Stevia)
• 1.5 oz gin (or vodka)
• 3 oz soda water

Directions:

1. Muddle grapefruit, mint, and sweetener in the bottom of a glass.
2. Add gin and soda water. Stir.
3. Serve!

What about you?

What is your favorite cocktail recipe?

Do you ever create your own cocktail recipes?

Effen Cucumber Mint Martini

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Let's start today's post with a game. Humor me for a minute as you read a few sentences and try to determine what they've all got in common...

-On a hot summer day, you sit on the edge of the water and let cool water flow over your legs.

-A dream vacation involves dancing and swimming under a waterfall, or hiding behind the water's spray with your significant other.

-You're sitting in a lounge chair, sipping a Corona with lime.

-You return from a long run and down a bottle of Smart Water.

Did you guess it yet? They're all refreshing!

There's something magical about the light, happy, refreshing feeling you get from all of those things. Whether it's something as large scale as a dream vacation, or something as simple as downing a bottle of water, it seems to breathe new life into us. There's nothing wrong with a little rejuvenation, my friends.

Just as I believe that life is better when you embrace spontaneity and random events and urges that come up, I also believe life is better when you continually find ways to revitalize yourself. Put cucumbers over your eyes and take a nap, or make cucumber and mint infused water to treat yourself as you re-hydrate.

Or, of course, make yourself a deliciously refreshing cocktail. Not the kind of cocktail that makes you pucker and cringe as you slowly sip it. Not the kind that's filled with sugar, just to create something that tastes good. Nope, this is a different kind of cocktail. Let's just say the cocktail has... evolved.

Enter the delicious and refreshing taste that we all want at the end of a tough day, or the beginning of an eventful evening.

Effen Cucumber Mint Martini

Ingredients:

• Ice Cubes
• 3 Mint leaves
• 1 slice of Cucumber (1/4 inch thick), cut in half
• 1 lime wedge
• 1.5 oz Effen Cucumber Vodka
• 6-8 oz Seltzer Water (Sparkling Water, Club Soda, or Diet Tonic will also work)

Directions:

1. Add ice cubes to cup
2. Add mint leaves and cucumber wedge. Squeeze lime juice from lime wedge and add.
3. Add Effen Cucumber Vodka and Seltzer Water
4. Stir!

Notes:

• You may notice this is a martini recipe, yet it's not in a martini glass. What's up with that? Unfortunately, I'm far too clumsy to deserve to drink from a real martini glass (seriously, I even have to use stemless wine glasses, I'm just a huge spaz and I get all excited and knock stuff over). That said, feel free to act like a real grown up and use a real martini glass. :)

Skinny Summertime White Wine Sangria

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You might have to double or triple this recipe, because your guests are going to be fighting over it! Refreshing cold white wine, combined with fruits, sparkling juices, and citrus flavors will keep you hydrated while making you feel like summer just began with your first sip!

HAPPY FRIDAY! YOU MADE IT! (And that means so did I!)

Okay, I got a little crazy with this one. I was even in the kitchen cutting star shapes out of pineapples. You see, the first time I made this was the Fourth of July. That meant I had red strawberries, blue blueberries, and... well, pineapple. It's not white, but it's darn close. And if you carve it into a star, people will go wild. You can feel free to be a little less ambitious and go with pineapple chunks, apple slices, or get lovey and cut the pineapple into hearts! (Send me a picture if you come up with something fancy!)

Skinny Summertime White Wine Sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Sliced Strawberries and Blueberries, mixed
• 1/2 cup of Pineapple cubes or fancy pineapple carvings (See below for the how-to)
• 2 bottles White Wine (I used a Chardonnay)
• 1/2 cup Cointreau Liqueur
• 1/2 cup Vodka
• 1/2 cup Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1-2 tablespoons Truvia or Sugar, to taste

Directions:

1. Place fruits in the bottom of a large pitcher.
2. Add liquid ingredients and stir.
3. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Overnight is best!

Ah, and were you wondering how I managed to cut the pineapple and carve it into stars?

How To Cut Pineapple Shapes:

Rip (or cut) the top off of the pineapple. If you don't have a strong mom like I do, you may have to cut it, but ripping/tearing is safer!

Cut the pineapple in half, slicing it down the core.

Print out shapes (I used stars) and then cut those out of the paper. Lay the paper shapes on top of the pineapple, trying to use as much of the core as possible, as it holds the best shape (the sides get a bit fibrous and mushy).

Use a knife to cut out the shape.

And voila!

I'm seeing stars!

Purple People Drinker: Blackberry Basil Cocktail (66 Calories)

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Summer breeze. The sun is shining down on you as you sit, sipping on a delicious cocktail. It tastes light and refreshing, with blackberries and raspberries tinting the water purple and casually infusing the flavor. A touch of basil adds just enough complexity to convince you that you didn't make the drink yourself; it came from the bar. You're ready for number two. Where's the waiter?!

I'm not sure if you noticed Summer knocking on your door. She's pretty much here. Get excited! Summer means that drinks have to get tastier, more refreshing, and, obviously, prettier. Sometimes, in life, you get all three of the things you wanted. We call that a triple threat. Here you go... :)

Blackberry Basil Cocktail

Calories: 66

Prep Time: <5 Min

Ingredients:

• 3 raspberries
• 2 blackberries
• 1/4 lemon, juice
• 1/4 lime, juice
• 1 tsp Basil, finely diced
• 1 tsp truvia (or sugar or sugar substitute)
• 1.5 oz Vodka (I used Skinnygirl Tangerine Vodka, but any regular vodka or citrus flavored vodka will suffice)
• .5 - 1 oz water

Directions:

1. Muddle (squish) raspberries and blackberries in a small glass with lemon and lime juices, basil, and truvia/sugar.
2. Add vodka and stir.
3. Add a bit of water (about .5 to 1 oz, or around half of a shot glass) and stir.
4. Serve!