Recipe #36: Margarita on the Rocks with Salt

Did anyone else see the thermostat at 100 degrees Fahrenheit today? Or is it even necessary to look when you can step outside and almost have your breath taken away from the intensity of the heat? One good thing about this weather though is that when your apartment's air conditioner can't keep your body temperature cool you can always find yourself at the pool.

Since coming back from vacation I think we have spent almost every afternoon at our local pool. And it's a good thing too because we would have been miserable without it. But one thing you definitely want when you've cooled off and relaxed is a drink. A big, strong one, too!

Ever since I've known Ian he has stayed away from any hard liquor like it was a flesh eating virus. He has always classified himself as a beer and wine kind of guy in the 4 years we've been together. Even though I drink hard liquor I have never had any good experiences with tequila. But I'm not sure what's in the water this summer because we've been drinking margaritas! (And this summer has been WAY more fun than any other summers we've been together.)

I hate to disappoint you all but I am sadly not making the margaritas from scratch. It has nothing to do with laziness or a time commitment but it has everything to do with the cost. Every margarita recipe I tried to mimic wanted us to buy triple sec and various other ingredients that would have easily tallied our total anywhere from $40.00-$50.00...yeah, no thanks. That would have cleared out my checking account and I've got to stretch my last dollars carefully until next payday. So pre-made may not be the most authentic version but everything else we garnished this drink with certainly was fresh!


Ingredients:

* 1 bottle of pre-made Jose Cuervo Light Margarita Mix
* 2 Limes
* Sea Salt
* 1 Small Bag of Crushed Ice








Cooking Directions:

First place your margarita glasses in the freezer until frosted (about an hour).

In the meantime slice the limes on a cutting board. With a knife, slice once from the center of the lime slice to the outside. Set aside.

Pour just a small amount of water onto a small dinner plate.

Pour a small amount of sea salt on another small dinner plate.

Once the glasses are frosted turn them upside down and dip the rim of the glass in the water.

Transfer the upside down glasses onto the plate with the salt. Dip until the rim has a healthy portion of salt that line the rim of the glass.

Then take your drink shaker and fill with ice.

Pour the margarita mix into the ice filled shaker and cover.

Shake until beverage is "ice cold" and pour into the margarita glass.

Garnish the glass with a couple of lime slices. Serve right away!