Wishing I was in Margaritaville

Happy Wednesday to you all! I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend. We worked on finishing projects around the house and just relaxed. Sprinkle a few BBQs in and you have the perfect recipe for a heavenly weekend : )

I've been itching to try out some new margarita mixes that I've discovered on pinterest. We have a birthday celebration this weekend and I know that a margarita will go perfectly with the theme, but my issue is which one do I choose?! Ha ha I know I have such horrible problems ; ) I have listed  the three of them below. Hopefully you feel inspired for one this weekend too! 

Strawberry Basil Margaritas

original recipe found here 

 makes 1 pitcher, or about 8 servings

1 can (12 ounces) frozen limeade concentrate
10 strawberries (or 12 if you're using smaller ones from the farmer's market or your backyard.)
8 basil leaves
2 to 2 1/2 cups tequila (gold or silver)

Empty the limeade concentrate into a pitcher. Add 2 1/2 cans of water and 1 1/2 (18 ounces, or 2 1/4 cups) cans of tequila (or a bit less, if you don't want your drinks to be quite as strong).

Hull the strawberries, slice lengthwise, and add to the pitcher. Crumple the basil a little in your hands (this will help the basil flavor release into the drink) and add it to the pitcher, too. 

Place the pitcher, covered, in the fridge overnight, or for at least four hours.

When you remove the pitcher from the fridge, your margaritas will be a lovely pale pink color. Now all you have to do is serve them and wait for the compliments to pour in.

 Pink Grapefruit Margaritas

original recipe found here

Makes 4 drinks

    1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice

    1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)

    1 cup triple sec orange liqueur

    3 cups  ice

    1 cup silver tequila

    1 lime cut in wedges, optional Kosher salt.

If you prefer to rim the glasses take a lime wedge and rim,then dip in salt, if you do not like a salted rim sprinkle a touch of salt ineach glass, the salt really brings out the flavor.

Combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice, triple sec and icein a blender. Pour into a large pitcher (or just keep it in the blender) andpour in the tequila, stir. (I personally just added it all to the blender- Ilike slushy, that is totally up to you)

 * Just as a note: it is important to use Ruby Red grapefruitjuice, it is much sweeter than regular and it has the lovely pink color.  

Spicy Watermelon Margarita

originally found here  

Crave more spicy heat keep seeds in tact.  Be warned this margarita begins cool and ends warm.

2 cups watermelon juice

1 serrano sliced in half, seeds removed

1-2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

salt

lime wedges

1 cup tequila

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 cup Cointreau

ice cubes

In a saucepan add watermelon juice, serrano, salt and 1 cup sugar. 

 Steep over love heat until sugar dissolves.

Taste and add more sugar to your preferred taste.

Remove chile, add to pitcher and allow to cool. Place in fridge to cool until ready to use.

On a small plate spread salt.  With lime wedges moisten rim of 6  ounce glasses.  Dip glasses into  salt.   Place glasses into freezer to chill.

In a pitcher add to the watermelon juice the tequila, lime juice and Cointreau. Remove glasses from freezer and serve margarita mixture over  ice. Garnish with lime slices.