Orange Ginger Margarita Food

GINGER BEER MARGARITA

Steps:

• Combine the tequila, lime zest, lime juice, orange juice and a few ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Pour into a rocks glass over ice. Taste, and stir in some simple syrup if you'd like it sweeter. Top off with the ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

GINGER MARGARITA

Steps:

• Bring sugar and water up to a light simmer and cook until all of the sugar is dissolved. Add ginger and steep for 30 minutes. Pour ginger-simple syrup into blender and puree. Strain out pulp and store in a tightly sealed jar or bottle. Will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.
• Pour some bar sugar onto small plate and grate a pinch of nutmeg on top, mix well.
• Add tequila, lime juice, 5 ounces ginger-simple syrup and ice to cocktail shaker and give it a good shake. Run lime wedge around rim of glass and dip in sugar/nutmeg mixture, add ice and pour in contents of shaker, grate a little nutmeg on top and serve with a wedge of lime.

TRIO OF MARGARITAS - GINGER, GRAPEFRUIT AND TAMARIND

Steps:

• Combine the tequila, Cointreau, ginger syrup, lime juice and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass with or without a salt rim (use the lime wedge to wet the rim). Garnish with pickled ginger.
• Combine the tequila, Cointreau, grapefruit juice, lime juice and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass with or without a salt rim (use the lime wedge to wet the rim). Garnish with sliced grapefruit.
• Combine the tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, tamarind syrup, lime juice and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass with or without a salt rim (use the lime wedge to wet the rim). Garnish with orange zest and pomegranate seeds.
• Bring the sugar, 1 cup water and ginger to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar has melted and the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and infuse for 30 minutes. Strain before using.
• Bring the sugar, 1 cup water and tamarind paste to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar has melted and the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and infuse for 30 minutes. Strain before using.

ORANGE GINGER MARGARITA

Steps:

• Place frozen orange juice concentrate (reserve 1 tablespoon), tequila, ginger liqueur, ginger, and ice in a blender and mix until ice is crushed.
• Place reserved tablespoon concentrate on a small plate and salt on another small plate. Dip rims of 4 glasses in concentrate and then in salt. Fill glasses, garnish with crystallized ginger if desired, and serve.

ORANGE-CRANBERRY MARGARITA

Steps:

• For the cranberries: Combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar is dissolved. Add the cranberries and weight with a plate to submerge them in the liquid. Cover the pot and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 48 hours.
• Drain the cranberries, reserving the syrup. (Yields about 1 1/2 cups syrup; store leftover syrup in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 month.)
• Put the superfine sugar on a baking sheet, and toss the cranberries in the sugar. Refrigerate the cranberries, uncovered, for 1 hour, then toss again in the sugar. Refrigerate in an airtight container. (Makes about 2 cups.)
• For the margarita: In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lime and orange zests with the cranberries, 1/4 cup of the cranberry syrup, and the sugar.
• Add the tequila, orange juice, lime juice and orange liqueur; stir until combined. Fill 4 glasses with ice cubes, and strain some of the margarita mixture over each. Garnish each glass with 6 sugared cranberries.

ORANGE-MINT MARGARITA

Steps:

• In a pitcher, muddle mint with orange juice and lime juice. Add tequila and orange liqueur. Fill with ice and stir until cold.
• To serve, dip rims of glasses in a shallow bowl of water, followed by a shallow bowl of salt to coat. Pour margarita into glasses and top with chilled seltzer. Serve with mint sprigs and orange wheels.

ORANGE-GINGER ROUNDS

Steps:

• Place two 12-by-16-inch pieces of parchment on a work surface. Divide dough in half; form each half into a rough log on parchment. Fold parchment over dough; using a ruler, roll and press dough into a 1 1/2-inch cylinder. Wrap. Chill at least 3 hours.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Spread crystallized ginger on a work surface. Unwrap logs; roll in ginger to coat. Cut logs into 1/4-inch-thick rounds; place on sheets, spaced 2 inches apart. Bake until edges turn slightly golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Bake or freeze remaining dough. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.