This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Maine chapter.
Cinco de Mayo..the perfect excuse to get tipsy on a weekday! Try these five drink recipes to spice up your day.
1. Horchata
Ingredients:
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 quart warm water
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Whole cinnamon sticks, optional, for serving
How to Make:
- In a blender, combine the rice and warm water. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes until the rice breaks up but does not form a powder. Let the rice mixture stand in the refrigerator for six hours or up to overnight.
- Strain the rice mixture into a container through a fine-mesh sieve or several layers of cheesecloth to remove the rice solids.
- Pour the rice water into a blender and add the milk, vanilla and almond extracts, cinnamon, and sugar. Blend for 1 minute until well combined and smooth. Serve the horchata over ice with cinnamon sticks as stirrers.
(Recipe courtesy of Ingrid Hoffman)
2. Michelada
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 4 limes, cut into wedges
- 4 (12-ounce) bottles beer
- Hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
- Worcestershire sauce
How to Make:
- Combine the salt and chili powder in a small bowl and transfer to a flat plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each beer mug and dip it into the chili-salt to coat the rim. Squeeze the juice of 4 lime wedges into each mug. Add a lime wedge to the mug and fill with ice.
- Add 1 bottle of beer, a dash of hot sauce and a dash of Worcestershire sauce and serve immediately.
(Recipe courtesy of Ingrid Hoffman)
3. Gelatin Margarita Shots
Ingredients:
- One 3-ounce package lime flavored gelatin
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
- 1/2 cup chile-infused tequila
- 15 limes
- Kosher salt, for sprinkling
- Special equipment: mini muffin tin
How to Make:
- Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Add the lime gelatin and stir until the gelatin dissolves. Pour into a liquid measuring cup and mix in the orange liqueur and tequila.
- Meanwhile, cut the limes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh out of both halves. Place each half in the cups of a mini muffin tin and pour the gelatin mixture into each half. Place the muffin tin in the fridge until set.
- Cut each half into 2 wedges, sprinkle with salt
(Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchens)
4. Tequila Refresca
Ingredients:
- Ice cubes
- 1 ounce tequila, white or gold
- Dash Campari
- 6 ounces grapefruit soda,(recommended: Fresca)
- Small wedge fresh pineapple, grapefruit, and lime
How to Make:
- Fill a goblet or rocks glass with ice cubes. Add the tequila and a dash of Campari to give the drink a slight blush and balance the sweetness of the soda. Top off with the grapefruit soda. Skewer the fruit and stir into the cocktail. Drink.
- Serve with a plate of wedged pineapple, a small bowl of your favorite chili powder, and coarse salt, for dipping.
(Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchens)
5. Classic Margarita
Ingredients:
- Limes
- 1 cup tequila
- 1/3 cup orange-flavored liqueur
- 2/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
How to Make:
- Rub the rim of 4 rocks glasses with lime; dip in coarse salt.
- Fill three-quarters of the way with ice. Combine 1 cup tequila, 2/3 cup fresh lime juice, 1/3 cup orange-flavored liqueur and 2 teaspoons superfine sugar in a cocktail shaker.
- Shake well, then pour into the glasses. Garnish with lime.
(Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchens)