All Things For All Parties

T.G.I.F. CUCUMBER JALAPENO MARGARITAS

Aye Caramba!  Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo and I am definitely planning on finding a nice patio to sit on to enjoy a frosty margarita.  The Cucumber Jalapeno Margie is my absolutely favorite and I think you will become as addicted as I am once you make-up a batch of these little diablos!  Ole!

Serving Size 1

Ingredients:

2 slices fresh jalapeno chili
3 slices peeled cucumber
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1.75 ounces Corzo Tequila Blanco
Garnish: unpeeled slice of cucumber

Directions:
1. Add jalapeno, cucumber in cocktail shaker. Muddle to break up chili and cucumber.
2. Add lime juice, tequila and ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Pour into a 12-ounce bucket glass.

T.G.I.F. THE SALTY CHIHUAHUA

 

Ok I don't know what's going on but I am on a total health kick these days and this is the closest drink I found that seems fun but still a little healthy hence the grapefruit (of course minus the tequila); but come on, it is Friday after all, so let's go ahead and kick this weekend off right plus I love the name of today's drink.  Woo Hoo!

Ingredients:
5-6 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
3 oz Tequila
Salt

Directions:

1. Rub the rim of an old fashioned glass with a bit of the grapefruit. Swirl the rim through a small pile of kosher or sea salt to salt the rim.
2. Add grapefruit juice and tequila in a shaker, and shake with ice for 15 seconds.
3. Put a few cubes on ice in your old fashion glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass and enjoy.

T.G.I.F. PISCO SOUR SANGRIA

 
How about making a pitcher of Pisco Sour Sangria for the weekend?  Sangria always reminds me of my BFF and old roomie, she always loved to make a big batch of Sangria and invite friends over...this recipe definitely calls for an occasion or at least an excuse to make one up.  You know me always looking for an excuse to throw a party!!

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle fruity dry white wine (try a suavignon blanc)
• 1 1/2 cups Pisco Brandy (Campo de Encanto Pisco...you can get this at Bevmo)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup lemon-lime simple syrup (see recipe below)
• 1 Granny Smith apple, cored, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 lime, thinly sliced
• small bunch of mint

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients in a pitcher, cover, and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours.

Lemon Lime Syrup

1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup water, 2 thin slices lime, 2 thin slices lemon

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan.  Boil and cook until sugar completely dissolves.  Add lime and lemon.  Let Cool.  Chill for 1 hour and remove fruit.  Keep refrigerated up to 1 month.

 

T.G.I.F. Micheladas!

 
This simple spicy Mexican Beer Cocktail recipe is great for warm days or Fiestas.  Cervezas preparadas, or "prepared beers," are popular throughout Mexico.  What goes in a Michelada varies by region by the simplest version uses the following recipe.  I am not a big beer drinker but there is nothing more refreshing than a ice cold Michelada. 

Ingredients:

12 oz beer
juice of 1 lemons
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 dash soy sauce
1 dash Tabasco® sauce
1 pinch black peppers
salt

Directions:

Mix ingredients in a tall high glass with lots of ice. Add beer, mix, and serve.

 

T.G.I.F. Cucumber Margaritas

 
Photo and recipe by Coastal Living, September 2005

I recently went to a new Mexican restaurant in our area and they had the best Cucumber Margaritas...I couldn't believe how refreshingly good they were and now I have such a craving to make them so I started scouring the internet to find a recipe that seemed similar and this is what I found.  Ole, Ole!

Makes 4 servings 
 
Ingredients
12 slices fresh cucumber
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
4 ounces (1/2 cup) Cointreau
6 ounces (3/4 cup) tequila reposado
6 cups ice
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
Lime slices 
 
Preparation
Combine cucumber and next 4 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.
Pour into glasses. Top each serving with a tablespoon of Grand Marnier, and garnish with lime.

Throw an Authentic Mexican Fiesta for Cinco de Mayo

  

Aye Caramba!  Can you believe it's already May so whether you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo or just looking for a reason to mix up some margaritas, a Mexican Fiesta themed party is always a sure thing.  Casual, easy and inexpensive to throw, your guests will be shouting “Ole, Ole” with these festive ideas.

Cinco de Mayo Decorations

It’s hard to have too many decorations with this theme and you can make it look fabulous and authentic without having to use the typical plastic and foil decorations you usually find at your local party store.  For this party, mix brightly colored linens, like this red runner accented by brown and chartreuse napkins.  Better yet, if you have a serape around the house from your last trip to Mexico this also works great as a tablecloth or runner.  If you’ll be entertaining a lot of guests and will have several tables, try using burlap for your tablecloth.  The rough and natural texture is the perfect neutral base for all the color that you’ll be adding with these decorations.  To add an extra punch; colored glass votives, mixed with terracotta votives and tin luminarias will help set the mood once the sun sets.

Last Minute Cinco de Mayo Decorations

 
Add a little bit of spice to your next party. From Cinco de Mayo to a Classic Fiesta, Dia de los Muertos or a DIY Margarita Mixer; find everything you need to serve up nachos, guacamole, and did we mention the margaritas, at your very own Mexican Style Fiesta!

 

T.G.I.F. Sangria Blanca

 
Photo and Recipe by Refinery 29

Today's cocktail recipe comes from Refinery 29.  It's fruit salad in a glass with a little splash of extra fun.  It's the perfect drink to serve at your Cinco de Mayo party and a great prelude to the summer.  Guests will stay cool with this crisp and refreshing party cocktail.

For 2 large pitchers you will need the following items:
2 white peaches
2 white nectarines
4 oranges
1 pint strawberries
2 bottles torrontes (or any non-oaked white wine)
1/2 cup rose infused simple syrup

Slice the peaches and nectarines into eigths or tenths, depending on size. You can do whole slices of the citrus, but I prefer cutting supremes, so you can eat them after the fact. For the uninitiated, supremes are when you slice off the skin, and slice between the white membranes segmenting the fruit. Halve the strawberries. To make the syrup, combine 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water. Add the petals of one small very perfumey rose (I had some in the house) or a 1/4 teaspoon rosewater. Bring to a boil, and let it sit for 10 minutes to steep. Add the syrup and wine to the fruit, and let the mixture sit in the fridge for a few hours to combine. Pour and enjoy.

T.G.I.F. How about a Blood Orange Campari?!

 
photo and recipe by Global Cocktails

I've definitely got Spring Fever!!  We live in LA and this week has finally started to warm-up; we have had beautiful, summer like weather for the last few days and it has put me in the mood for something new.  This week has been incredibly busy and stressful so I am really looking forward to being to being able to sit outdoors and enjoy one of these tasty drinks.

Ingredients

3 large blood oranges, juiced, about 1/3 cup juice

1 oz. Campari

Chilled Prosecco or Champagne

Optional garnish: blood orange peel or blood orange slice

Directions

Pour 1 ½ oz. of blood orange juice in each Champagne flute. Add ½ oz. of campari. Top off each drink with sparkling wine, garnish with a slice of blood orange, and enjoy.

T.G.I.F. Red Chile Guava Margarita

 
 
Photo by Public Restaurant, NYC

This tropical, spicy margarita was created at Public in New York City and since it's Friday and the construction on our house is almost complete....I am ready to kick my heels off and celebrate with a spicy Margie!!!  Aye Carumba!

What to buy: Guava nectar is available in health food stores and Latin groceries. You can also get it online.

Game plan: The “Red Chile” in this drink’s name comes from homemade Chile-Infused Tequila. Be sure you make it a couple of days in advance to get that spicy kick this cocktail deserves.

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups Chile-Infused Tequila
1 1/2 cups Triple Sec
1 1/2 cups guava nectar
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice
10 lime wedges
Salt, for rimming the glasses
Ice
10 small red chiles, for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
Combine tequila, Triple Sec, guava nectar, orange juice, and lime juice in a pitcher and reserve in the refrigerator until ready to use.
To serve, rim a rocks glass with salt by rubbing a lime wedge around the outside and then dipping the glass in salt. Fill the glass with ice, add the margarita mixture, and garnish with a skewered chile pepper (if using).