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.

Guacamole Night with Piedra Azul Tequila

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A few weeks ago, I was contacted and offered a very difficult proposition to participate in a Dip and Sip Challenge. Basically, I had to make cocktails with Piedra Azul Tequila and compete in a guacamole challenge judged by Gaby Dalkin (Blogger at What's Gaby Cooking and Author of Absolutely Avocados). Did I say difficult? I meant delicious.

I promptly got on it and set up a Mexican night with some friends of ours. I brought the tequila (which was provided by Piedra Azul) and cocktail ingredients, some guacamole ingredients (courtesy of a Whole Foods gift card provided by What's Gaby Cooking), and my good old happy spirit. My girlfriend prepared a taco bar, quesadillas, and some taquitos.

When we arrived, the first order of business was cocktail making. My only guideline was to use the Piedra Azul Tequila we were provided, so I had carte blanche with other ingredients. Looking for something light and refreshing, I decided to create cucumber margaritas.

Before arriving, I juiced a few cucumbers to make sure we had the nutrients to combat the alcohol. I ended up with a huge bottle of cucumber juice. Keep in mind that you can easily use any pure juice in this recipe - so if you'd prefer Pomegranate Margaritas, just use Pomegranate juice instead of Cucumber. You get the idea.

I topped these margaritas with cilantro, and it was the perfect addition. But, I know some of you are not into cilantro (what's with the hate?), so feel free to omit!

Cucumber Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1.5 ounces tequila
• 3 ounces cucumber juice
• 3 ounces water
• 1 tsp Maple Syrup or Agave
• 1/2 lime
• Ice
• A few pieces of cilantro, ripped, for garnish

Directions:

1. Squeeze lime juice into shaker.
2. Use lime wedges to wet the edges of the glass. Dip in ice, if preferred (we didn't!).
3. Combine all remaining liquid ingredients in a shaker and shake. 
4. Pour over ice. 

Once the cocktails were made, we got down to the next order of business: Guaca-freaking-mole. It is one of my favorite things because I feel like you can do just about anything with it and justify it as "healthy" because avocados are all the rage in the health world.

I'm a bit disappointed with how these photos turned out, but I assure you that the guac was delicious. I always try to use feta or goat cheese, and combine it with garlic, so it tasted very rich.

Garlic Guacamole

Ingredients:

• 3 avocados
• 1/4 white onion, chopped
• 1 handful cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 3 tbsp hot, smoky salsa (or whatever works for you!)
• 1/3 cup Feta

Directions:

1. Mash avocados.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix well

Once the cocktails were flowing and the guacamole was prepared, we dug into the taquitos and taco bar. My girlfriend makes a mean taco bar spread, and there was anything you could want in your taco! From shredded chicken to corn, from beans to carmelized onions, she had it all.

We may have been full, but we weren't ready to quit without using the quesadilla maker. My girlfriend made a few chicken and cheese quesadillas, and the men gobbled them down.

What About You?

• What's your secret Guacamole recipe?
• Have you ever gotten fancy with margaritas, or are you into the traditional recipe?

**Disclaimer: I was provided with a Whole Foods gift card and a bottle of tequila to write this post. Don't worry, though - it was all just as good as it looks!**

Red In The Morning Cocktail (Sparkling Vodka Sunrise)

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This was totally spur of the moment. One of those things that you throw together with no intention of it actually looking or tasting particularly great. And then, all of a sudden, the stars align and Voila! You've got yourself a legitimate cocktail.

For those of you who are familiar with a Tequila Sunrise, this is similar... but instead of Tequila, we're working with Vodka... and we're giving it a bit of bubbly sparkling water to keep it light and lower the calories.

Why did I name it Red In The Morning? We were brainstorming cocktail names with our guests and Justin suddenly blurted it out. It's part of a Sailor's phrase... "Red sky at night, Sailor's delight. Red in the morning, Sailor's warning." (Or something like that. I'm sorry if I butchered it!). And when I googled that phrase, here's the image that came up. Looks like the drink, eh?

So that's the story of the birth of Red In The Morning Cocktail. It's a harder version of a Mimosa - but you can drink it during brunch - or treat it like a Tequila Sunrise and guzzle it during cocktail hour!

Red In The Morning (Sparkling Vodka Sunrise)

Ingredients:

• Vodka
• Orange Juice
• Sparkling Water
• Grenadine

Directions:

1. Add 1 shot (or more if you're a daring Sailor, aye!) of Vodka to your cup
2. Fill the cup 1/2 way with Orange Juice
3. Fill close to the top (leaving just a bit of room for the Grenadine to fit!)
4. Pour Grenadine in, which will sink to the bottom

Note:

• If you MUST have ice, start with it in the cup. Your drink *might* not be as pretty, though!

CREDITS:

Red Sky At Morning Image Source