Patriotic Margaritas Recipe 465

Steps:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup and orange liqueur. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up.) Place Lime-salt-sugar on a plate. Press the rim of a chilled rocks or wine glass into the mixture to rim the edge. Strain margarita into the glass.
• Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. (Alternatively, heat in the microwave.) Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• Blend together lime, salt and sugar in a small blender or mini food chopper.

Steps:

• Moisten the rim of a glass with a lime wedge. Sprinkle salt onto a plate. Lightly dip the moistened rim into the salt. Place a large ice cube in the glass and freeze the prepared glass until ready to serve.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with fresh ice. Add tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Cover and shake vigorously until outside of the shaker has frosted. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with a slice of lime.

Steps:

• To make simple syrup, mix sugar and water in 1-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool, about 1 hour. Pour syrup into glass jar, cover jar and refrigerate until needed. 1 1/4 cups (use 1 tablespoon per margarita). To prepare cocktail, add cranberry juice, tequila, orange-flavored liqueur, simple syrup and lemon juice to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake. Rub rim of martini glass with lemon wedge; dip in sugar. Strain cocktail into glass.