Monday, February 22 is National Margarita Day … definitely one of the more important holidays of the year.  If you’re around Dallas, stop by one of the places offering awesome deals on the limey tequila goodness.

If going out on a Monday isn’t your thing (which I just will never understand), try your hand at homemade margaritas sans the sugary (and, ahem, pedestrian) mixes with my Blood Orange Mid-Winter Margarita.  Since blood oranges are in season from December to May (give or take), it’s the perfect way to punch up the traditional recipe.  (Since it’s quite colorful, it makes for a great picture, too!)

BLOOD ORANGE MID-WINTER MARGARITA
1.5oz tequila
0.75oz of Monin Blood Orange Syrup
0.75oz fresh blood orange juice
0.75oz fresh lime juice + a bit more
chile salt

Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker.  Add ice and shake for 15 seconds.  Dip the rim of the glass in lime juice and then the chile salt.

Want a bit of spice?  Throw in 1/2 oz of Torani’s Sweet Heat ghost pepper syrup!