There’s so many things to be happy about today.. It’s finally May, its Cocktail Friday, AND it’s almost Cinco de Mayo! For those of you throwing a “Dos de Mayo” party this weekend, I wanted to give you a little fiesta inspiration. I had so much fun with the cocktail this week (as you can probably tell). I am absolutely in love with these “Hola” & “Fiesta” stir sticks, too! The Roc Shop has amazing cocktail/party ware, so head over to her site for some colorful happy hour accessories. I can’t WAIT for her new summer collection to come out… I already know it will be inspiring some summer cocktail posts!

As for this week’s cocktail, this Jalapeño + Strawberry Margarita is so much fun. It has a little sweet and spicy going on, which is perfect to pair with some yummy Mexican food. Speaking of food, in case you need some Cinco menu help, I figured I would share some of my go-to recipes. I make these all the time, but they are extra special on the holiday!

Ina Garten’s Guacamole Salad is one of my all time favorite dishes. It’s basically deconstructed guacamole, so it’s healthy and delicious. I am also a huge fan of salsa, so what better day than Cinco de Mayo to whip up some fresh Pico de Gallo?! I love making my own because I can customize it a little bit, and then keep it in the fridge to use whenever I want! Finally, the day wouldn’t be complete without Chicken Enchiladas. The recipe I use comes from the Trader Joe’s cookbook, but I change it up a bit by cooking my own chicken and using authentic enchilada sauce. If you don’t have the cookbook, you can find the recipe posted here.

So grab yourself a margarita (and maybe a mini piñata) and have yourself a little fiesta this weekend!

Jalapeño Strawberry Margaritas (serves 2)

10-12 strawberries (I used slightly defrosted frozen ones to make it colder)

2 Limes

2 Lime wedges

2 Slices of Jalapeño

1.5 oz. Agave nectar or simple syrup

2 oz. Triple Sec

4 oz. Tequilla

Muddle the strawberries, juice of 2 limes, lime wedges, agave, and jalapeño slices (deseed if you want less spice). Add triple sec and tequilla. Strain into two glasses filled with ice.

Cheers!

xx

Happy Friday! For a girl who doesn’t like gin, this week’s recipe definitely won me over. Typically, I’ll choose a cocktail with vodka or tequila, and the gin stays in Elliot’s glass. Since gin and tonics are his go-to, I figured I would try and make something a little more special.

The blackberry and lemons in this cocktail are delightfully fresh and sweet. You can use the lemon juice to your own discretion (I like putting  a little bit more in mine to make it taste more like lemonade).  Also keep in mind that the blackberries need to be muddled very well. If they aren’t broken down enough, you won’t taste as much berry flavor.

Hope you enjoy the recipe and the weekend!

Blackberry Gin Fizz (serves 2)

12 Blackberries

1.5 oz. Lemon Juice

1.5 oz. Simple syrup

4 oz. Gin

8 oz. Club soda

Ice

Lemon and blackberries for garnish

Muddle blackberries and simple syrup in a glass or jar. Add lemon juice, gin, and club soda. Fill two glasses with ice and add the cocktail mixture. Garnish with a lemon slice and blackberries. Cheers!

xx

I am a huge fan of Moscow Mules. One of my best friends from college introduced them to me, and I have been in love ever since. How fun is it to drink a yummy cocktail out of a cool copper mug? It’s definitely my go to drink.

Since I’m always up for a new take on a classic, I decided to try out a grapefruit version of the cocktail this week. The tartness of the grapefruit with the spicy ginger beer makes for a perfect concoction. With summer weather on the horizon (who am I kidding.. it’s almost always hot here), this is definitely a must have recipe for the warm weather season.

Grapefruit Mule 

2 oz. Vodka

2 oz. Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

1 oz. Lime juice

4 oz. Ginger Beer

Ice

Sliced grapefruit and mint for garnish

Pour vodka, grapefruit juice, and lime juice over ice in copper mug or glass. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with sliced grapefruit wedges and mint. Cheers!

xx