What sort of Monday are you having?  Hopefully it’s the good kind – productive and pleasant.  You might want a margarita to celebrate being one fifth of the way through the work week.  On the other hand, if you’ve got a case of the Mondays, well – these will help with that too.

Citrus season is in full swing, and hopefully the lovely bright colors and fresh scents will help keep the winter blues away until spring is really here.  Blood oranges are one citrus fruit that has a short window of availability.  I end up pining after them all year long and then during those few short weeks when they are available, I do my best to make use of them.  Well, it turns out this year I went a little overboard.  I hoarded them at the grocery store and got a good number in my produce bin, and the next thing I knew our counter was overflowing with them.  What else to do but make margaritas?  I have yet to meet a margarita I didn’t like, but these are high up on my list of favorites.  The flavor is quite similar to a traditional margarita, but slightly sweeter thanks to the blood orange juice and of course, you just can’t beat that gorgeous red-orange hue.

  • Yield 4 servings

Ingredients

1 cup (8 oz.) freshly squeezed blood orange juice (about 7-8 oranges)
½ cup (4 oz.) freshly squeezed lime juice
¾ cup (6 oz.) tequila
½ cup (4 oz.) orange liqueur
¼ cup (2 oz.) simple syrup
Blood orange slices, for garnish

Directions

  • 01

    Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir well to combine.  Pour into chilled glasses over ice.  Garnish with a slice of blood orange, if desired.  Serve.