Mojitos and Margaritas

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!

The weather is too cold this year to be outside, so the festivities are being brought inside! Last year, I made beer margaritas for Cinco di Mayo, which became a favorite summer time drink. I liked that I could make it in advance, leave it in the freezer, and when we had impromptu friends or neighbors stop over, it was already prepared and ready to serve. This year, along with beer margaritas and Corona, I will be making Mexican Mojitos.

Ingredients for Mexican Mojitos:

• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
• 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum
• 1/2 cup club soda

Directions:

1. Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

Pica de Gallo

We actually celebrated "Uno De Mayo" (according to my husband) instead of Cinco De Mayo this year because we were picking up our daughter from college and returning on the 5th. (We did manage in between a getaway to Indy to a nice hotel, dinner and a night out at Howl at the Moon (a dueling piano bar I have been wanting to go to for awhile which was a lot of fun!). So for "Uno De Mayo" we invited some friends over to celebrate! This recipe is nice and fresh with lots of spice coming from the onions and jalapeno! And the beer margaritas helped take the heat off!


3 large vine ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/2 large white onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1 jalapeno pepper, very finely chopped
salt to taste
Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer. Serve with tortilla chips.

MY TIP: The longer you keep this in the fridge the better as the flavors will marry.

Beer Margarita

Happy Cinco- De -Mayo!

¡Disfrute de su fiesta!

1 12oz can of frozen limeade (found in the freezer section of the grocery store)

1 12oz can of Lemon/Lime soda (I use Sierra Mist although you can use Ginger ale, Sprite or 7up)

12oz of tequila

1 12oz bottle of Mexican beer (I prefer Corona but Bud with lime can be substituted)

Limes

Course salt
Ice

1. Fill a blender all the way to the top with ice, add limeade

2. Fill limeade can with tequila (12 oz) and pour into blender and blend

3. Pour into a pitcher
4. Add a bottle of beer (I used Corona)
5. Add 12 oz of a lemon/lime soda (I used Sierra Mist)

Put in freezer for 5 hours until slushy, stirring occasionally

6. Run a cut lime across the top of the glasses and dip the rim of the glass into course salt

7. Pour margarita into salt rimmed glasses and serve (if you feel it is a little strong you can always add more soda)
8. Garnish with lime slices

MY TIP: This can be made ahead a couple of days ahead of time and kept in the freezer.

Salud!