Whew – it has been a long week! I spent this past week teaching preschool crafts to 100 3 and 4 your olds for our church Vacation Bible School program. Yes…100 three and four year old children came through our classroom each day to learn a message and do a craft each day. I am used to being around my own kids, but these three hours of other peoples children every day wore me out. I came home in the afternoon and could not wait to get a nap in. It did not help that my husband was in New York all week on business either. I had to be in full-time Mommy mode 24/7.
By Friday night I was ready to pull my hair out and knew I needed something strong to help me relax into weekend mode. I needed an adult beverage. Something as far away from kid friendly as possible. I had a bottle of Grand Mariner and remember seeing an ad in Gourmet magazine awhile back for a Grand Mariner margarita. It was a simple recipe.. one part Grand Mariner and lime juice and two parts tequila. You shake it all up in an ice filled cocktail shaker and then strain it into a salt rimmed margarita glass. Soon after Nick was home, I made my Grand Mariner margarita. When I took my first sip I was completely disappointed. It just was not what I was looking for. I finished it (of course!) and then set out to find another recipe.
I hopped onto Recipezaar and did a search by ingredients…Grand Mariner and Tequila. I found this recipe for a Top Shelf Margarita. We had the ingredients necessary to make this yummy beverage and I anticipated that it would be little sweeter than the straight up Grand Mariner margarita.
This margarita was the perfect end to a crazy week. The flavors melded together wonderfully. It was just sweet enough and it packed just enough punch to put me into full weekend mode. We finished the evening with an impromptu gathering in our front yard. My husband got the fire pit out and several neighbors came over. We hung out into the late hours of the night, with our children falling asleep on our laps and us enjoying the fire and conversation. This was the type of night that summers are made of.
Top Shelf Margarita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau liqueur
- 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier or gran gala
- 2 1/2 ounces prepared sweet-and-sour mix
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 1/2 ounces tequila
Instructions
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Fill mixing glass with ice.
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Pour in all ingredients.
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Shake well.
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Pour into salt rimmed glass.
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Add lime wedge or wheel.
On a side note, I have missed reading all of my favorite blogs this week! I cannot wait to catch up with you all to see what wonderful recipes you have in store for me.
mmmm! top shelf indeed, that looks like one heck of a marguerita, yum!
that picture is stunning too :):)
100 3 or 4 year olds? I hope you had 3 or 4 of those yummy margaritas. You deserve every drop!
omigosh.
I don’t teach vbs.I used to.Now I just thoroughly apprecite those who DO teach it..Yours was big!
I used to love those cookouts when the neighbors joined in..we are in the country a bit now and i doesnt happen. The drink looks wonderful
Wow, I admire your teaching capacities…I don’t think I could have.
It’s been a long week here too, so hubby and I decided to open up the bottle of Champagne that was sleeping in the fridge…just like that…figured that if we don’t live a little now, when would we?!!
Hope your weekend is (very) relaxing.
That should calm your nerves down!!
Good for you going in and helping. I’ve done cupcakes and baking with about 12 2 – 3 year olds at playgroup, and it’s fun! Not sure I’d manage 100 though 😉
What a FUN week you have had. Dad and I cooked a steak and had a glass of wine last night. The steak was delicious, the wine was great, and the evening was super. Love you all!
wow! you do deserve that drink! hope your weekend is restful
Hope you had a more restful weekend and that drink sounds just awesome. Perfect timing for the summer.
The Belmont was one of those races for the ages! I was on my feet yelling and screaming…at the TV, mind you.
Margaritas, I’m pretty sure, are the official drink of the State of California. However, get your tequila now. Mexican farmers are burning down the agave fields to plant corn or the US ethanol market. (The income if much higher) They are predicting a shortage of Tequila in the coming years.
I am in complete awe of you. I don’t know how you do it. What kind of vitamins do you take to do all you do? I want some! 😉
Summer nights, I have found, are to be savoured reflecting all one’s blessings.
Well Deserved!
I think there is a special place at the golden gates for Girl Scout Troop leaders and Vacation Bible School teachers. And I bet they will be serving one of these =D
I LOVE it!! When one cocktail recipe isn’t right, we drink it anyway, and try again. 🙂
VBS is exhausting! I remember going as a kid and my mom helping out. You and she are far better than I – I don’t think I could do it!
What a nice night in your neighborhood, I hope someday I live somewhere again where I know my neighbors.
Mmmmm….margaritas and an open fire on a summer night. Sounds like heaven to me!
Okay you have to try these margaritas! –SO SIMPLE and SO GOOD!
1 – 12 oz. can frozen lime aid (use empty can for all your measuring)
12 oz. tequila
12 oz 7-up
1 – 12 oz. Corona Beer
Mix together. Pour over crushed ice.
not about the margarita, although that sounded great–about the chocolate chip cookie recipe–I made that right after you posted it, the kids loved it (the batter AND the cookies)–they wanted it yesterday, I was out of butter so James walked over 1 1/2 miles round trip (SERIOUSLY) to the grocery store on the corner to get butter so I would make them. THAT is a good recipe!
Excellent recipe.. so so needed after how hectic it’s been at my work these past few weeks (with no end in sight yet *sigh*) – I’ll be giving it a try, thanks sweetie!
xoxo
Hummmm we love margaritas! Our kids are getting ready for VBS next month at our church, we enrolled them last night! Three years ago I volunteered for a VBS in the US, I had a blast… sweet memories, wish I could go back in time… or maybe there, I miss my friends! Have a great week!
Wow. You definitely deserved an adult beverage – and that one looks delicious! I might have to make one tonight – even though it’s Monday and I don’t have the excuse of 100 3-4 year olds.
I’m just laughing at you needing a Margarita after dealing with vacation Bible school 🙂 Classic.