In my old age, I have discovered that I love rum, and that I really love daiquiris! I do not like sweet drinks, so my version is made with a combination of fresh lime juice for tartness, agave for a hint of sweetness, and frozen mangoes, which are available all year round. On Sundays, after we play golf, we either make margaritas or daiquiris to cool off and unwind. Once you taste this daiquiri you will be hooked...I am warning you now.

You can use light or dark rum, or a combination of both if you desire. If you do not have cointreau, you can use triple sec. Instead of using a traditional simple syrup ( water boiled with sugar) I use a combination of agave and water. If you are not a mango fan, you can use frozen peaches.

Squeeze your limes. I like using this juicing tool, which you can find in any grocery store. It makes life easy and it keeps the seeds out.

Combine all your ingredients in the blender and blend till smooth. If you have any left over after filling your glasses, simply pour the remains in a container that will fit in your freezer to keep it frozen. If you put a lid on your container the daiquiris can remain in the freezer till you are tempted to indulge again.

I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and make a fun new wonderful drink for yourself. I guarantee it will be better than any drink you can purchase at a restaurant or bar, and you can savor it in the comfort of your own home.

MANGO DAIQUIRI RECIPE

Serves: Makes 6 daiquiris
Prep Time: 5 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup light rum
2 shots cointreau
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup agave
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (3 limes)
1 1/2 cups frozen mango cubes
4 cups of ice (start with 4 and add ice as needed)

PREPARATION

Juice your limes 'till you have 1/4 cup lime juice.
In your blender combine the rum, cointreau, water, agave, lime juice, mango, and ice. I use a pyrex liquid 2 cup measuring cup and fill it a little above the 2 cup level twice with ice. The water and agave replace the traditional simple syrup (water boiled with sugar) that most daiquiri recipes call for.
Blend till smooth. Add additional ice to achieve the consistency you like. You can store the daiquiris in the freezer till ready to enjoy. If the daiquiris have been in the freezer for a while, let them defrost a little and puree in the blender again for a smooth consistency.

Note: If you use fresh mangoes, there is no need to add the 1/2 cup of water.

PRINT RECIPE

Freshly squeezed grapefruits, limes, tequila, and Cointreau...what could be more refreshing?

We make these martinis every Wednesday as a cozy way to start our date night. I know martinis are not traditionally made with tequila, but my husband is from Mexico and prefers tequila. Tequila has a rich, deep flavor that gin and vodka simply do not have. Of course, if you prefer vodka then by all means go for it!

It's nice to have a automatic juicer, but for years I did not own one. I would simply manually squeeze the grapefruits. I would also recommend investing in a lime/lemon juicer tool. You can find them at most grocery stores or kitchen stores. With the lime juicer tool, you will extract more juice than you would manually, plus it captures the seeds!

Grapefruits, limes, tequila, and Cointreau are the ingredients you will need for your martinis. Jose Cuervo Tradicional silver tequila is my go-to tequila. But for a really rich, deep flavor I also love Herradura reposado (tequila that has been aged in oak for 2-12 months).

If you do not have a shaker, simply use a Tupperware container with a lid.

Here in Houston we can find pink grapefruits in the winter and yellow ones in the summer. They both look the same on the outside which is tricky. I prefer the pink ones since they are sweeter. But whether it's summer or winter after 2 martinis they all taste good!

gRAPEFRUIT MARTINI RECIPE

Makes 2 - 4 Martinis... depending on how juicy the grapefruits are

Prep Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

3 grapefruits
2 limes
6 shots (1.5 ounce) good quality tequila (or vodka)
1 shot Cointeau (orange liqueur)

PREPARATION

Squeeze grapefruits and limes in a pitcher.
Add tequila and Cointreau.
Put a few cubes of ice in your shaker, pour in liquid mixture and shake.

PRINT RECIPE

Note: You can make this mixture ahead of time, as along as it is served the same day. Just store in the refrigerator and do not add the ice until ready to serve. Even if the mixture is cold, still shake with ice to create the wonderful foamy bubbles on top.