The Perfect Margarita

Who doesn't just love the taste of a cool, crisp margarita on a warm summer day? Doing one sugar detox after another for the past few years has left me craving for some good ol' tequila and lime. After reviewing plenty of ideas on how to satisfy this primal craving and stay relatively clean, I've come up with what I believe is THE PERFECT MARGARITA!

I've been making this margarita recipe for just over a year and was inspired to share it when you when I read an article today about red Solo® cups. While I didn't use a Solo®cup, I sure enjoyed my margaritas this past 4th of July!

Let's talk about booze for a minute here...

One thing I've really struggled with the past two years has been the balance of enjoying an occasional cocktail and still losing weight. Let's be real: alcoholic drinks to not help you lose weight. But, when you're used to an occasional drink or two, it's really hard to give up. Not saying there's an addiction here ... just that it has become a clear deal breaker for me: I won't give it up in the name of losing weight.

Some of you may think I'm crazy - or perhaps have a drinking problem. Fine. Haters gonna hate. Judgers going to judge. I could care less. As much as I've gone days, weeks, months without a drop of sugar in my body (aside from naturally occurring sugars in whole, nutrient-dense foods), I can tell you that giving up alcohol was the hardest part. (Chocolate is rough but a glass of red wine is really hard for me to pass up!)

Not enjoying a glass of red wine on Saturday steak night made me feel like something was missing. My husband would drink a beer instead of a bottle of wine because he didn't want me to feel bad. But, I knew he'd rather have had a glass of wine instead.

I used to love trying different beers; hubs loves the richness of a dark amber while I enjoyed the hoppy, wheaty style of beers. But, I've since realized that I cannot tolerate wheat or gluten (or most grains) without terrible side effects for up to a week. I do miss that tall weis beer with a slice of lemon. Hold on - I need a moment of silence to mourn that!

I've also come to the realization that while going through the occasional Whole30 or 21 Day Sugar Detox helps me get over a plateau or ignites my metabolism, it's not a viable long-term solution FOR ME to lose weight. I need a balance that's reasonable and keeps me happy.

Margaritas and red wine make me happy.

(Again, keeping it real!)

So, now that the cat is out of the bag and you now know of my love of booze, I'll share with you my recipe for The Perfect Margarita.

Warning: Proceed with caution. You cannot have just one!

The Perfect Margarita

Makes one cocktail

Ingredients

1/2 lime (or 1 whole if they're really small)
1 oz honey syrup (see recipe below)
2 oz tequila (see note below)
Ice
Kosher Salt (optional)

Directions

1. Optional step: Rub the rim of your glass with your cut lime and then dip into salt (on a small saucer/plate)


2. Fill your cup with ice


3. Juice a 1/2 lime over ice


4. Measure and pour honey syrup, followed by tequila


5. Mix well


6. If you're feeling fancy, garnish with a lime slice


7. Enjoy!

Alternatively: If you have a cocktail shaker, use that and pour mixture over ice!

Best enjoyed out on the deck with friends and loved ones!

Honey Syrup

In a small jar (I like to use 1/2 pint jars), mix 1 part honey to 2 parts warm water. Screw the lid on tight and shake well - until all of the honey is dissolved. Store this mixture in the fridge (if you seriously have any left!).

About Tequila

The highlight of this cocktail is the tequila. Some cheap, bottom shelf tequila will NOT cut it! At least not for me. One thing I'm not, though, is a booze snob. I'm more of a middle-of-the-road kinda gal. Jose Cuervo suits me just fine and I do lean towards gold vs. silver tequila. (Seen in the photo above, I've been on a Jose Cuervo Tradicional Resposado kick which is apparently a limited edition.) One thing I will not compromise with my tequila: must be 100% agave! No added fillers or other additives. Just give me that straight up Mexican gold!!

Notes / Comments:

• I skip the salted rim! Makes a mess and I can live without the added salt.


• Make sure you use a very HIGH QUALITY HONEY for this cocktail!


• Try using local raw honey but make sure it mixes well with the water as raw honey is usually very thick.


• For some people, this cocktail is not as sweet as they would like. You can adjust the ratio of honey/water or simply add another ounce to your margarita.


• No, I have not tried any other sweetener for this drink. I have yet to dabble in the use of stevia in my kitchen.