For those of you who find time has no meaning anymore, I wanted to remind you that this weekend is Independence Day weekend.  The 4th of July is on a Saturday, which means the holiday weekend starts tomorrow.  Hard to believe it’s July and things surrounding the Covid pandemic still don’t seem to be improving.  Or should I say they have improved, then deteriorated, and we are still in a quagmire (depending on where you live).  

But it’s summer, and I love love love summer.  Everything just seems so much more chill- traffic is lighter, stores are less crowded, and I don’t feel as rushed.  This year has been especially nice for me since I am working from home and the mornings are so much more relaxed than they ever were.

Whether or not you are able to do anything special for the holiday weekend, you need a delish cocktail.  How does a jalapeño margarita sound?  I know I am late to the party when it comes to spicy margaritas, but it’s never too late to discover a wonderful taste sensation. And I did post my friend Charlene’s Frosted Cowboy drink recipe years ago, so that must count for something!

In order to enjoy this drink, you have to 1) like tequila, and 2) have access to a Trader Joe’s market so you can buy the Jalapeño Limeade that is crucial to this drink.  If you are okay with number one, get thee to a Trader Joe’s, and fast!  This limeade is a game changer for me.  I don’t see any other reason for this beverage to exist other than as a mixer for margaritas.  It is that perfect.

Here’s the recipe:

Jalapeño Margarita

2 oz tequila (Hornitos or Espolon are good choices)

1 oz triple sec

3 oz TJ’s Jalapeño Limeade

Splash orange juice

Fresh lime wedge

Fresh jalapeño slices (seeds removed unless you like it super spicy)

Combine all ingredients except for the lime wedge into a shaker filled with ice.  Shake vigorously, then pour into a glass with a salted (or sugared or neither) rim.  Squeeze then add the lime wedge into the drink and enjoy.

Photo courtesy of Trader Joe’s.