Thursday, April 26, 2012

Crazy days and a Pineapple-Jalapeno Margatini


I need a vacation…

The last several weeks have been a mixture of stress, sadness and just about every other emotion you can think of. On top of that, we are preparing (thankfully) for a trip and I feel like I’ve lost complete control of my to-do list that only seems to be getting longer. I am definitely feeling the effects of this roller coaster ride I’ve been on and cannot wait to kick my feet up and relax. 


I will be the first to admit that I don’t handle excess stress well. Eventually I hit my breaking point and it’s not pretty. I mean, I’m not a total basket case or anything, I just like to feel more in control of things, and I have felt anything but lately. Andy, on the other hand, is the type of person who listens to the original Muppet movie soundtrack at times like this.

Yes, you read that correctly. Yesterday morning, as I was getting out of the shower, I heard a familiar tune coming up the stairs. It was none other than Kermit the Frog, strumming away on his guitar, singing about rainbows. Andy, who has himself had a full plate, some big meetings, and a crazy wife to deal with, was going about his morning routine, feeding the dog and presumably humming along with Kermit and Fozzie, while I was going over my mental to-do list for the hundredth time that morning. It actually made me stop and laugh. My kingdom for that kind of ability to put it all aside, if only for a few moments, and enjoy a normal morning before the days gets away from you. But with the Muppets?? I’ve haven’t yet told him how adorable I thought his choice of music was, but adorable it is. It sort of makes my heart melt a little…

Okay, okay…enough with the mushy stuff. Let’s move on to cocktails!


I’ve mentioned before how much we both hate the made up words that your encounter online, like blogosphere, blogiversary, blogvertising, etc. What? You don’t have time to say “blog advertising?” That’s just waaaay too long. Well, I know people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, but with the name of this cocktail we’re chucking those stones as hard as we can. Andy (somewhat) jokingly called this a “margatini,” obviously a combination of martini and margarita, and I have to admit, although begrudgingly, that I kind of liked it. So here it is, the margatini. (I promise you will never hear me say blaudience or blogerati. NEVER EVER. I draw the line at cocktails.)


Pineapple-Jalapeno Margatini

Makes 1

1 ounce jalapeno-cilantro simple syrup (recipe follows)
2 ounces pineapple juice
1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco
1/2 ounce triple sec
squeeze of lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold. Strain into a glass. (Rim glass with salt first if desired.)

Jalapeno-Cilantro Simple Syrup

Makes 5 ounces

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 jalapeno, sliced
1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over high heat. Let boil for a few minutes until sugar is dissolved and mixture is clear and slightly thickened. Strain and let cool.


Please, please, please make this. It’s addictively spicy, but not overtly, and the flavors are so right together. This would make for the perfect Cinco de Mayo cocktail, or might be just the right choice for when the Muppets aren’t cutting it.

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16 comments:

  1. Thanks for your interesting post! Makes me want to have a vacation now and sip that cocktail while relaxing along the shore...very tropical! Love it! Please keep this post coming...

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  2. Michael would LOVE this...he likes a little spice! I have to tell you that there's a winery nearby in the Texas Hill Country that makes jalapeno wine...instead of grapes, they use jalapenos! We have a friend who's a wine distributor, and this was a find he served at a dinner party last fall. It was...interesting. Not MY cup of tea, but Michael enjoyed it!

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  3. My week has been similar to yours and I think one of these cocktails (or maybe two) would make things better!

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  4. I'm sorry things have been rough lately. Although I wouldn't suggest it in the mornings, I'd say a few of these cocktails will ease whatever pain there is. :)

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  5. Definitely making this... sounds perfect to go with fish tacos... or burritos... or enchiladas... or a bad day... or a GOOD day!
    thanks for all you do and sharing with us!

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  6. Haha, love the muppet story! I hope you get to breathe soon!
    The color of this martini is awesome, and I love the idea of jalapenos - if only i could bring myself to like pineapple!

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  7. This looks and sounds REALLY good. Happy Cinco de Mayo/birthday!

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  8. I may not squeeze in a vacation anytime soon, so I will have to settle for a cocktail here and there. Homemade of course. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Oooo, pineapple and jalapeno together, how delish!!!

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  10. Ohhh I am horrible with stress.... the last weeks have been crazy (we are moving) I finally broke down, got up and took a week off,from everything..LOL!! I would love to try this, great combo!!

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  11. I just did it today. Jalapeno tempered with the sweetness of pineapple juice. The cilantro works for the scent. It works well. Im just curious, there are recipes for infusing Jalapeno-cilantro with tequila. Would it be more better if we use Jalapeno-cilatro infused tequila and just use a citrus-syrup?

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  12. it looks very refreshing!
    I hope the stress will be gone soon!


    Life and travelling
    Cooking

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  13. I love all the cocktail recipes you've posted, and this one looks so good! I recently tried a martini with jalapeno in it and I loved it! I can't wait to try this recipe!

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  14. OMG. This looks just stunning! I love flavored simple syrups for cocktails. I just made one with strawberries.

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