Sparkling Limon-Lime Margarita

I have to confess- I am not usually a margarita on the rocks kind of gal.

If you find me ordering a margarita at a restaurant, it is highly likely that it will be something fun, fruity, and very frozen... with a sugar rim.

But even I have to admit that those are overly sweet and probably not worth the crazy amount of calories I am slurping down. 

There has only been one restaurant that has served me a margarita on the rocks that I have come back for over and over. And that is the Margarita Tapatia from Cuco's Taqueria in Columbus, Ohio.  THE MOST AMAZING margarita on the rocks I have ever had... hands down. (Seriously. If you are ever in the Columbus area, look up Cuco's.  It is in a little strip mall so it doesn't look like much, but sometimes those are just the best places. ;) )

The Mexican Martini

The Mexican Martini is a kicked up version of your traditional margarita with a little extra booze & the perfect balance of sweet & salty...

Whew! I am getting this recipe up on the blog just in time for your all's Cinco de Mayo celebrations later today and this weekend. Talk about cutting it close, but I pulled through for you all. ;) 

Now I know some of you all are already scratching your heads wondering just what in the world is a Mexican Martini. Let me enlighten you all for second or two. 

I had my first sip of a Mexican Martini when I traveled to Austin, Texas last month for a food blogger conference. The first night of our stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Downtown Austin, the conference attendees were treated to a tasting menu from the hotel's in-house restaurant, @SOCO Bars + Bites. 

As we munched on BBQ-rubbed pork belly & gazpacho shooters, servers walked around with trays offering us some of the bar's signature cocktails. The cocktail I happened to fall hard for was their version of the Mexican Martini. 

Of course, I only wish I had known what a boozy kick that they packed before I drank three of them (yes, three of them). Let's just say that the first morning of the conference was just a little rough for me... ;)

Frozen Peach & Cara Cara Orange Margarita

Ripe peach and sweet Cara Cara oranges come together in this refreshing Frozen Peach & Cara Cara Orange Margarita...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

So, can we chat about Cara Cara oranges for a second? I literally just discovered the existence of this navel orange hybrid last month, and I have been hooked ever since. Like I want to make all the Cara Cara orange things now. 






And why you might ask? Well, they happen to be a little sweeter and milder in acidity than traditional navel oranges. They also happen to be seedless which makes them perfect for juicing. And just look at what is on the inside when you slice one open. Such gorgeous color, folks!

Since patio sipping weather has just about arrived here, I thought why not use my new favorite citrus fruit in a frosty margarita? I combined fresh Cara Cara orange juice with ripe peach and fresh squeezed lime juice to make the perfect frozen peach margarita. You can rim your margarita glasses with salt or sugar depending on your taste preference. 






Personally, I am all for the sweet & salty combo, so I opted for a salt rim with mine. But if you prefer a sweeter margarita, go for the sugar rim. I found that the natural sugars from the orange juice and fresh peach were just right for me, but my husband who prefers all things syrupy sweet went for the sugared rim for his frozen margarita...

14 Bikini-Approved Cocktails

Get your drink on with less guilt with this collection of tasty low-calorie cocktails...

Looking to sip on something refreshing with a kick to cool off with this summer, but not really wanting to wreck all the hard work you have put into getting swimsuit ready in the matter of a weekend?  

Never fear because I have gathered up 14 tasty cocktails that your bikini would be happy to approve of! ;)

Almost all of these tasty mixed concoctions contain fresh, juicy fruit and are low in calories and sugar.  So, move aside tasteless low-calorie and low carb beers! 

These colorful, summer perfect cocktails can take it from here ... ;)

Family Dinner-In with HERDEZ® Frozen Bowls & Mockagaritas

Thank you to the makers of HERDEZ® Cocina Mexicana Frozen Bowls for sponsoring and providing the tasty inspiration for today's post.  All opinions expressed below are my own.

You all know by now that most evenings of the week I cook for my family.

But let's keep it real- there are definitely nights when I don't feel like cooking.

Or nights when the day has been so trying and busy that I am tempted to pick up a pizza or take-out.  Not the healthiest or most budget friendly choice though.

I mean, what I really want to do on most evenings like those is take off for the local Mexican restaurant for dinner and margaritas, but that just isn't always in the budget for us.

That is why I am so glad that I recently discovered HERDEZ® Cocina Mexicana Frozen Bowls in the freezer section at my local grocery store.  

I will admit it- I am always skeptical of frozen meals. Often times, they are just okay or downright blech. But other times, you hit a tasty frozen food jackpot.

And these Herdez Frozen Bowls are one of those rare jackpots, folks. ;)

I was really impressed with the Beef Barbacoa Bowl- tasty, perfectly seasoned tender chunks of beef served alongside Spanish style rice. 

To make family dinner-in with HERDEZ® Cocina Mexicana Frozen Bowls a little more fun, I came up with a kid friendly Mockagarita recipe to share with you all...

Peach Shinesicles

These 3 ingredient Peach Shinesicles are the perfect frozen boozy treat for summertime...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

With peach season in full swing now, I am always trying to concoct new delicious ways of enjoying one of my favorite summertime fruits. As I was looking through my fridge the other day, I spied a bottle of peach moonshine (not the backwoods stuff, folks) we had picked up a few months ago & the wheels started turning. I have always wanted to try my hand at a boozy popsicle, so I thought why not a peach one?

These Peach Shinesicles literally have just 3 simple ingredients in them- fresh pureed peaches, peach juice, and peach flavored moonshine. Many liquor stores now carry moonshines or cordials cut with moonshine, but if you cannot find a peach flavored shine feel free to use a peach liqueur like Schnapps instead. Or if you happen have a bottle of the homemade stuff laying around, you could totally use that too. ;)

Watermelon Mint Gin Fizz

Your favorite gin comes together perfectly with fresh watermelon, sweet mint, & some bubbly club soda to make this simple & refreshing Watermelon Mint Gin Fizz...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

So I made a shocking revelation the other day as I browsing through some of my recipes on my blog looking for watermelon recipes for a collection that a food blogger friend of mine was working on- I didn't have a single recipe using watermelon on my blog! In my 5 years or so of blogging, I have never once posted a watermelon recipe?? 

Immediately my brain said WHAT?!?! I mean, how could that be? I love, love, love watermelon- especially during the summer months. 

I set out right away to remedy this food blogging injustice I had inadvertently committed and got to brainstorming. The result? A refreshing, tasty cocktail perfect for summertime! :)

My newest liquor obsession for summer has been gin. I had never really considered myself much of a gin drinker before, but there is just something about it's clean, crisp flavor that lends itself well to refreshing cocktails that are perfect for beating the heat. 

I paired my favorite gin with fresh watermelon, sweet mint, and some bubbly club soda to make these simple, yet gorgeous Watermelon Mint Gin Fizzes...

Planning a Getaway to Grapevine, Texas

Experience luxury, delicious Texan cuisine, and a brief step back in time in the historic & charming town of Grapevine in North Texas...

All accommodations, meals, & experiences were provided courtesy of Travel Media Showcase & its sponsors. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Last month I had the pleasure of attending Travel Media Showcase for the first time in the lovely city of Grapevine, Texas, which is located halfway between Dallas & Forth Worth. While I spent a good part of my first visit to the state of Texas at the actual showcase events, I did get a little time to explore the resort we were staying at and to experience the charms & tastes of Grapevine. 

But before I get into the details of my Grapevine Getaway, let me tell you all a little bit about Travel Media Showcase (TMS). The showcase (which is in its 16th year) is an opportunity for travel writers, journalists, & bloggers to network and learn from each other as well meet and interact with representatives from convention & visitors' bureaus (CVB's) from across the country. 

Not only are those in travel media given the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with the CVB's of their choice, but the showcase provides plenty of opportunities for writers and CVB reps to interact and get to know each other on a more personal level whether that be over a cocktail or as part of a local tour of the area. The connections that you can make at the Travel Media Showcase with other travel writers as well as with those representing the visitors' bureaus are simply invaluable. So much better than a back & forth over email, don't you think? ;)

Though my visit to Grapevine was far too brief, I did come away with a few travel nuggets to share with you all about the area...

Vanilla Ice Cream with Sprinkles {A Guest Recipe from Cooking On the Front Burner}

>Recipe Link *Here*

Hi, I'm Deb from Cooking On the Front Burner and am excited today to be guest posting at Carrie's blog as part of her Virtual Ice Cream Social Week!  I've known Carrie for awhile now and her blog is a great place to come for some wonderful recipes, Marvelous Monday and of course, my favorite, the Spiked! Recipe Challenge.  In fact, I can't wait to see what the ingredient will be for July.... (and I was thrilled when my Strawberry Margarita Shortcake was selected as a top pick last month).

Now that summer is officially here, one of our favorite things to do is go out for a scoop or two.  I'm not picky - I like Dairy Queen, Culvers, Cold Stone, Flapdoodles (local) or even an occasional cone from Mickey D's!

But now..... I own this!

Yep, I decided to take the plunge.  I've seen so many good ice cream recipes from Pinterest that I know I want to try so I thought, why not!  Last Saturday I drove to Kohl's (with my coupon), picked this up, came home and tried to sneak it in the house.  No luck, I was met at the garage door by the DIY Guy.  He took one look and said "I suppose that is for something you are blogging about?" and I said "Yes" then he said "Well, I get to eat the goods so I don't mind"....  whew!  It all worked out

Since this was the first time I was using it, I decided on plain vanilla to play it safe!  I was very pleased with the results and now thinking of other flavors to try next.  I do love sprinkles so I think that jazzed it up a bit... do you?

What's your favorite flavor? 

Thanks so much Carrie for having me!!  Hope you all have a great summer! 


--

This recipe post is part of Virtual Ice Cream Social Week on the blog! :)

Be sure to check out my Tips & Tricks for Making Homemade Ice Cream, my recipe for Put the Key Lime in the Coconut Ice Cream, and get entered below to win a Nostalgic Electrics Ice Cream Maker (the very same one I own!) and a copy of The Perfect Scoop!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to stop back here every day this week for a new homemade ice cream recipe! :)

Roasted Veggie Guacamole

Packed with oven roasted veggies, this Roasted Veggie Guacamole is a fresh take on classic guacamole... 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jose Ole. 

The opinions and text are all mine.

I have a confession to make- I secretly look forward to Cinco de Mayo each year. I mean, it is pretty much a Mexican food lover's dream holiday, right? It isn't like I really need to have an excuse to eat chips & salsa and to shake up some margaritas... but there is just something so fun and festive about Cinco de Mayo.

Unless you plan on sitting around waiting for a table for an hour or more, forget about trying to eat out at your favorite Mexican restaurant on May 5th! It is tons more fun to plan your own tasty Mexican inspired menu at home.  

This year I am making my family's Cinco de Mayo dinner simple and delicious with my easy recipe for Roasted Veggie Guacamole and a little help from the José Olé snacks I picked up in the freezer section of my local grocery store. ;) I grabbed the filling and satisfying José Olé Beef & Cheese Mini Tacos and some of their Mextremes Spicy Nacho Cheese Taquitos. Can it seriously get any more fun than tiny tacos, folks? 

You can Flavor your Fiesta in no time too this May 5th! Just start with this quick, fresh, & veggie packed guacamole, throw in your favorite José Olé snacks, add a little sour cream, a side of salsa, and a whole lot of smiles, and there you have it- the perfect family Cinco de Mayo dinner celebration...

Slow Cooker Tequila Lime Beef Barbacoa {Spiked!}

In case you missed the announcement a couple of weeks ago, this month's Spiked! Recipe Challenge ingredient is Tequila!  And it was just in time for Cinco de Mayo! ;)

Tequila is not a liquor that I partake of often.  In fact, I had to head to the liquor store to pick up a bottle because I did not currently have one in our liquor cabinet.  There was a time (a LONG time ago during my college days) when I could kick back shots of Cuervo with a little salt and lime and call it night, but those days are far behind me.   Now I like to enjoy a nice margarita (frozen & flavored, please) every once in a while, but save the shots. 

For Cinco de Mayo this year, I decided to make a little beef barbacoa in the Crock Pot.  And hey, why not add some tequila and lime in there?

What you will need:

1 1/2 to 2 lbs of stew beef

1 chipotle pepper (seeded & chopped), plus a tbsp of adobo sauce from a can of chiles in adobo

1/2 onion, chopped

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp salt

Juice of 1 lime

1/4 cup tequila

1 cup of beef broth

1 tbsp brown sugar

In a small bowl, whisk together the chipotle and adobo, the onion, garlic, cloves, salt, lime juice, the tequila, brown sugar, and beef broth.  

Place the stew meat in the Crock Pot, and then pour the chipotle/tequila mixture over top of the meat.  Toss in the bay leaf.

Cook on High for 2-3 hours, and then on Low for 2-3 hours.  

Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the Crock Pot and place onto a cutting board.  (Also be sure to fish out that bay leaf and toss it in the trash!) Cut into bite size pieces, trimming any excess fat.  Place the trimmed barbacoa back into the Crock Pot, stir, and leave on Warm until ready to serve.

I served our beef barbacoa rolled into warm flour tortillas.  You can top yours with your favorite taco toppings- shredded cheese, avocado, salsa, sour cream...   I ate my simply with just slices of avocado on top.

I had a little of this beef leftover the next day, so I made a delicious breakfast burrito with it- I just scrambled some eggs with a little cheese, added the warmed leftover barbacoa, and rolled them into a flour tortilla.

Are you a fan of tequila?  Do you cook with it or do you prefer it in beverage form? ;)

If you happened to miss the sign-ups for this month's Spiked! Recipe Challenge, never fear!  We will be back in July with a whole new boozy challenge- Stay tuned! :)

Slow Cooker Tequila Lime Beef Barbacoa

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 4--6 hours

6047424

Ingredients (4-6 servings)

• 1 1/2 to 2 lbs of stew beef
• 1 chipotle pepper (seeded & chopped), plus a tbsp of adobo sauce from a can of chiles in adobo
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp salt
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1/4 cup tequila
• 1 cup of beef broth
• 1 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the chipotle and adobo, the onion, garlic, cloves, salt, lime juice, the tequila, brown sugar, and beef broth.

Place the stew meat in the Crock Pot, and then pour the chipotle/tequila mixture over top of the meat. Toss in the bay leaf.

Cook on High for 2-3 hours, and then on Low for 2-3 hours.

Once the meat is cooked, remove it from the Crock Pot and place onto a cutting board. (Also be sure to fish out that bay leaf and toss it in the trash!) Cut into bite size pieces, trimming any excess fat. Place the trimmed barbacoa back into the Crock Pot, stir, and leave on Warm until ready to serve.

I served our beef barbacoa rolled into warm flour tortillas. You can top yours with your favorite taco toppings- shredded cheese, avocado, salsa, sour cream... I ate my simply with just slices of avocado on top.

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Mexican "Fried Ice Cream" Blondies

These thick & soft Mexican "Fried Ice Cream" Blondies have a moist vanilla blondie layer covered in rich chocolate, and then topped with a crunchy cinnamon tossed corn flake layer...

Post updated 4/28/18- This recipe post for these thick & soft Mexican "Fried Ice Cream" Blondies deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

One of my favorite desserts to order when we go out for Mexican is the fried ice cream.  I mean, seriously? How did they come up with this idea for this deliciousness anyways??  

Let's freeze ice cream super hard, roll it in a cornflake mixture, & then deep fry the thing. 

Mind blowing.

Announcing the Spiked! Tequila Recipe Challenge Winner!!

You all made this SO hard for Julie & I!  Again.  
We REALLY had to do some serious consideration and debate to pick this challenge's winner.  They were all so delicious and creative! :)

This month's Spiked! ingredient was Tequila.  Recipe submissions could be anything using tequila except for a cocktail or drink.

So, without further adieu here are the Spiked! Tequila Recipe Challenge runner-ups (in no particular order)...

Bananas Foster-rita Macarons from A Kitchen Hoor

Mango Shortcakes with Coconut Tequila Whipped Cream from Shake Bake and Party

Tequila Lime Bars with Chocolate Ganache from Your Girl For All Seasonings

And the winner of the Spiked! Te Recipe Challenge is... 
Deb from Cooking on the Front Burner with her Strawberry Margarita Shortcakes!

Congratulations Deb !!  What beautiful and tasty use of tequila!  Julie and I will be in touch with you shortly to get you hooked up with your June featured ad spot with me and your Starbucks gift card from Julie. :)

Julie and I would love to thank each and every one of you who entered this month's Spiked! Recipe Challenge.  We had 16 total Tequila laced entries for our third ever challenge.  I created a special Pinterest board for all of the Spiked! recipes, so please feel free to CLICK ON OVER and check them all out (and pin away while you are at it ;) ).  

Julie and I will be back again in July with an all new Spiked! Recipe Challenge!  We will announce that month's libation of choice on the first of the month.  (Psssttt... we may be feeling just a tad patriotic in July. ;) )

If you would like to see more information on the Spiked! Recipe Challenge, please click HERE to view the Spiked! page on my blog.