Orange Basil Margarita Food

SPICY MARGARITA

Steps:

• Put the Spicy Salt on a plate. Dip the rim of a chilled margarita glass into the mixture to coat the edge. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup and orange liqueur. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up.) Strain the margarita into the prepared glass.

ORANGE BASIL MARGARITA

Steps:

• Place sugar and water in a microwave safe bowl.
• Zest the oranges with a vegetable peeler and add to bowl. Stir.
• Heat mixture in the microwave until boiling and sugar is dissolved.
• Crush basil to release flavor and add to bowl, allow mixture (syrup at this point) to cool.
• Add sour mix to pitcher.
• Place a fine mesh strainer over the pitcher and squeeze the zested oranges and the limes through it.
• Pour the syrup through strainer into the pitcher.
• Add tequila and ice.
• Serve with orange slices and basil for garnish.

ORANGE BASIL GRANITA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring sugar and 1 cup water to a simmer over medium low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat. Stir in basil and let syrup stand for 15 minutes.
• Stir together orange juice, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl. Pour basil syrup through a fine sieve into the orange juice mixture; discard basil.
• Move mixture to a 9"x13" shallow nonreactive dish(glass is good). Chill in the freezer until edges are frozen, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from freezer; scrape with a fork, pulling from the edges into center. Return to freezer. Repeat process every 30 minutes until the mix is the texture of shaved ice, about 4 hours. Spoon into serving bowls and garnish with basil sprigs. Enjoy!