Legendary Margarita, The

Summer is definitely here, and it's the perfect season to feature one of my favorite concoctions, which complements a tall glass and a beach chair-the margarita.

Though this sweet-and-sour sipper is undeniably a signature of the Southwest, its history is unclear. Perhaps the most documented tale involves bar owner Danny Herrera of Rancho La Gloria in Mexico. He claimed to have developed the libation for a frequent customer, 1930s Hollywood showgirl Marjorie King, who was allergic to every kind of alcohol but tequila.

Whatever the real story is, one thing's for sure-everyone has a different way of mixing this drink. Needless to say, my search for the quintessential margarita led me to an array of recipes, so I decided to go back to the basics. Just three ingredients-tequila, fresh lime juice, and orange liqueur-are the fundamental flavors that make up this cocktail. The rest is history. -SHANNON SLITER SATTERWHITE

Moisten the rim of the glass with a lime wedge. You can also use orange liqueur or other sticky juices that allow the salt to cling.

Dip prepared rims in margarita salt or other coarse salt varieties. Substitute sugar for salt, if desired.

Classic Margarita

MAKES 1 SERVING

PREP: 10 MIN.

Make any size batch of this recipe and all the variations by simply multiplying the ingredient measurements by the desired number of servings. For larger batches, stir together all ingredients in a pitcher until powdered sugar is dissolved. Chill and serve over ice. For a sweeter drink, use ½ cup powdered sugar instead of 1/3 cup.

Fresh lime wedge (optional)

Margarita salt (optional)

Ice

1/3 cup fresh lime juice*

3 Tbsp. orange liqueur

2 Tbsp. tequila

1/3 to ½ cup powdered sugar

Garnish: lime slice

1. Rub rim of a chilled margarita glass with lime wedge, and dip rim in salt to coat, if desired.

2. Fill cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add lime juice, liqueur, tequila, and powdered sugar; cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish, if desired, and serve immediately.

* 1/3 cup thawed frozen limeade concentrate may be substituted for fresh lime juice. Omit powdered sugar, and proceed with recipe as directed.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Cointreau for orange liqueur and Jose Cuervo Especial for tequila.

Frozen Margarita: Combine lime juice, liqueur, tequila, and powdered sugar in a small pitcher or measuring cup; stir until powdered sugar is dissolved. Pour into a zip-top plastic freezer bag. Seal and freeze 8 hours. Let stand 5 minutes at room temperature before serving. Pour into prepared glass. Makes 1 serving.

Frozen Strawberry Margaritas: Process lime juice, liqueur, tequila, powdered sugar, 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries*, and 1 cup crushed ice in a blender until slushy. Rub rim of 2 chilled margarita glasses with lime wedge, and dip rim in red decorator sugar to coat, if desired. Serve immediately in prepared glasses. Makes 2 servings.

*Your favorite fruit, such as watermelon, peaches, or berries, may be substituted.

Margarita Sunrise: Pour lime juice, liqueur, tequila, powdered sugar, and 3 Tbsp. orange juice over ice in a cocktail shaker. Cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into prepared glass. Add 3 Tbsp. club soda or lemonlime soft drink for a little fizz, if desired. Top with 2 tsp. grenadine. Serve immediately. Makes 1 serving.

Melon Margarita: Substitute melon liqueur for orange liqueur. Proceed with recipe as directed. Makes 1 serving.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Midori for melon liqueur.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2006
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