Spicy Strawberry Margarita – Margarita de Fresa Picante

I’m spicing it up this Valentine’s Day with a margarita that is sure to have your loved ones feeling the heat.  Using one of my favorite chiles, dried chile piquins are grinded with sugar to make a sinfully spicy paste that really kicks up the classic simple syrup. Combine this chile infused simple syrup with strawberry juice, tequila and lime juice to create this Spicy Margarita.

Fiery flavor plus a burst of cooling fresh fruit juice – Happy Valentine’s Day!  

Margarita de Fresa Picante

Estoy agregando calor picante para mi día de San Valentín de este año con una margarita que está seguro de que sus seres queridos sientan el calor. Utilizando uno de mis chiles favoritos, piquins chile secos se muelen con el azúcar hasta formar una pasta pecaminosamente picante que se empiece a levantar el jarabe simple clásico. Combine esto Chile infunde jarabe simple con jugo de fresa, el tequila y el jugo de limón para crear esta Spicy Margarita.

Sabor ardiente con un explosión de jugo de fruta fresca – Feliz Día de San Valentín!

I like to use fresh juice for all my margaritas, but a few of my readers have asked if fresh can be substituted with store-purchased.  Of course, but please select a quality juice. 

Me gusta usar jugo fresco para todos mis margaritas, pero algunos de mis lectores han preguntado si el jugo fresco se puede sustituir con la que comparan el la tienda. Por supuesto, pero por favor seleccionar un jugo de calidad.

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Blackberry Margarita

Mami spent her summer’s picking blackberries, carefully washing them and sorting them in freezer bags for the winter.   We had a cluster of large bushes in our backyard that seem to explode overnight with blackberries.  Our next door neighbor would also collect as much as he could to make jam.  They would spend hours with a bucket at their sides, picking blackberries and talking. They talked family, friends and recipes. 

We were the runners.  We were in charge of carrying the crammed bucket inside, placing the berries in a huge strainer and returning the empty bucket.  As soon as our feet hit the kitchen we would cram as many of the plump berries into our mouths.  We thought we were smart, she knew.

One day I walked over to our neighbor’s house to borrow a cup of sugar.  He was quietly stirring a huge stock pot of berries.  Slowly the wooden spoon would stir, stir, stir… 

“Is the jam almost ready?”  I asked

“Jam?” he said, no darling I’m making wine.

Blackberry wine.  Nice.

Well this sweet concoction might not be wine, but I’d like to think if my neighbor still lived next door to my mami today we would spend the day picking berries. But instead of making wine we would toast with a sweet margarita.

Love thy neighbor people!       

I’m happy to announce that I am now a member of the Cooking Light Blogger’s Connection.

Please enjoy my first recipe with Cooking Light- blackberry Margarita from Cooking Light ~

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I wanted to squeeze in one more Holiday Margarita before the BIG Turkey day.  Hey, while you prep your cranberry sauce why not make the simple syrup for this colorful margarita.  A pop of color to your table or a dose of sanity for the busy day.   Keep company busy with a refreshing margarita and plates of appetizers while you add the finishing touches to your Holiday meal.  

I plan on making a huge batch of cranberry syrup and pumpkin syrup to take home this Thanksgiving.  Let’s be honest after 10-12 hours in the kitchen, your gonna need tequila. Enjoy!      

Fresh cranberries are simmered with sugar and water to create a simple syrup.  I used piloncillo in my simple syrup, but regular sugar works just as well.  Simmer until the cranberries burst and be sure to smash the heck out of them with a wooden spoon or potato smasher.  You want to release the entire cranberry flavor, this also gives you the deepest cranberry color.  Another tip try substituting freshly squeezed orange juice instead of water for another level of flavor.

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 Happy Friday!!

 Blueberry lemon has been one of my favorite flavor combinations since the day I watched Tyler Florence on Food 911 make blueberry scones with lemon glaze.

Pregnant at the time with insane cravings I needed them.  I phoned hubby to ask if he wouldn’t mind picking up blueberries on the way home.  Always the sweetheart he happily contributed to any and all of my cravings.

That evening I inhaled scones.  No, really I inhaled six, the recipe only makes eight.  I have made those scones ever year since that day with one small change in the recipe, I use lime.

I enjoy the tartness from lime and find it really perks up any fruit.  With many of my margaritas I also turn to lime more often than lemon as I feel the lime flavor add a little something special to the tequila.

I decided to add a touch of radiance to my margarita with a garish of  Honey-Tequila Pickled Blueberries.   Skewered pickled blueberries, casually laying over the side of my glass.

Picture perfect for any dinner party or even better in those rare moments when you decide to pamper yourself.     

When juicing for this margarita I find it best to strain as bits of skin do linger.  If you decide to add the pickled blueberries to your margarita be careful when mixing as you do not want to break apart blueberries in the cooking process.

If pickled blueberries are not your thing why not try frozen blueberries instead of ice?  The color is intense and in using tequila blanco you can maintain the vibrant color.  I rarely use tequila oro in my summer margaritas. I find them better suited for winter.

Of course feel free to experiment as these recipes are guides. Enjoy!

Blueberry Margarita

by Sweet Life

by Vianney Rodriguez

makes 4 margaritas

salt

lime wedges

1 cup tequila

1 cup blueberry  juice

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 cup Cointreau

ice cubes or frozen blueberries

Honey- Tequila Pickled Blueberries 

On a small plate spread salt.  With lime wedges moisten rim of 6 ounce glasses.  Dip glasses into salt.   Place glasses into freezer to chill.

In a pitcher combine tequila, blueberry juice, lime juice and Cointreau.  Remove glasses from freezer and serve margarita mixture over ice. Garnish with lime slices and honey- tequila pickled blueberries.

Love Maragaritas? I know I do.  Here’s more great margarita recipes!

Margarita Mania

Strawberry Margarita

Guava Margarita

Carrot Margarita

Citrus Margarita

Cantaloupe Margarita

Papaya Margarita

Pina y Pepino Margarita

Watermelon Margarita

 Mango Margarita 

Honeydew Margarita

Cherry Margarita

Peach Margarita

Kiwi Margarita

Blackberry Margarita

Watermelon Cucumber Margarita

Pineapple Margarita

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Sipping Sunday

It’s National Tequila Day!!

Can you tell I’m excited?  Let’s celebrate together with this bold blackberry beauty!!   

Blackberries hold a very special place in this girl’s heart.   Growing up wild blackberries flooded our backyard, the next door neighbor’s yard and all along the fence of the house on the corner of our street.

My mom and Mr. Lee (our next door neighbor) would spend long summer hours picking, picking, picking blackberries.   Us kids only picked enough to stash away in the freezer.  Once frozen they were plopped into a bowl with a sprinkle of sugar.

Heaven in a bowl on a hot Texas summer day.  So today when the heat index climbs to a sweltering 110 degrees.  I plan to celebrate National Tequila Day with a blackberry margarita.

I shall sip and I shall count my days left here in Edinburg, because next year I along with my kids will spend our summer hours picking blackberries.   I can’t wait!  Enjoy!                          

Blackberry Margarita

by Sweet Life

by Vianney Rodriguez

makes 4 margaritas

salt

lime wedges

1 cup tequila

1 cup blackberry juice

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 cup Cointreau

ice cubes

On a small plate spread salt.  With lime wedges moisten rim of 6 ounce glasses.  Dip glasses into salt.   Place glasses into freezer to chill.

In a pitcher combine tequila, blackberry juice, lime juice and Cointreau.  Remove glasses from freezer and serve margarita mixture over ice. Garnish with lime slices.

Celebrate National Tequila Day with….

Margarita Mania

Strawberry Margarita

Guava Margarita

Carrot Margarita

Citrus Margarita

Cantaloupe Margarita

Papaya Margarita

Pina y Pepino Margarita

Watermelon Margarita

 Mango Margarita 

Honeydew Margarita

Cherry Margarita

Peach Margarita

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Sipping Saturday

I set aside a few strawberries from my trip to Poteet, Texas to share with you one of my favorite margaritas.  Truthfully I love them all, but you can’t beat the taste of fresh strawberry juice on a hot, humid Texas night! Enjoy! Sweet Life!      

One margarita rule I do follow religiously is to use fresh juice.  If strawberry seeds aren’t your thing, simply strain to enjoy this colorful margarita.

Strawberry Margarita

by Sweet Life

by Vianney Rodriguez

makes 4 margaritas

salt

lime wedges

1 cup tequila

1 cup fresh strawberry juice, strained

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 cup Cointreau

ice cubes

On a small plate spread salt.  With lime wedges moisten rim of 6 ounce glasses.  Dip glasses into salt.   Place glasses into freezer to chill.

In a pitcher combine tequila, strawberry juice, lime juice and Cointreau.  Remove glasses from freezer and serves margaritas mixture over ice. Garnish with a fresh strawberry.

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