Mango Margarita with Tajin

One of the most famous cocktails in the world, the "Margarita," has an unclear history. According to the online site of the Smithsonian Institution, the time and place of the invention of the Margarita is not really known, but with one possible inventor in the late 1930s being from the Mexican city of Tijuana, located just over the Mexico-US border, south of California. Margarita's are made with tequila, a type of alcohol distilled from the blue agave plant, which is native to parts of Mexico, as well as to parts of the US southwest and Central and South America. Over time, variations to Margaritas have developed, and this one with mango is great. In this recipe, I've also used "agave nectar" to sweeten the drink. This nectar is now pretty common in supermarkets and certainly in Latino shops, so it's easy to find, but you can certainly substitute the "similar tasting" honey for the nectar. Some people put the Mango Margarita mixture into the freezer, where it takes on a "slushy" texture, but it won't completely freeze due to the alcohol. You can also just blend the mixture with ice cubes to give a similar effect, as I've done here. This is sooooooo good!    

Ingredients (per drink):

2 ounces tequila
1 ounce triple sec
1/2 cup mango pieces
juice of half a lime
2 to 3 tablespoons agave nectar (depending upon the sweetness of the mango) 
tajin seasoning for the rim of the glass*
1 to 1 1/4 cup ice

Use a piece of lime and run it over the top and outside rim of the glass. Put some tajin seasoning onto a small plate and then dip the rim of the glass into the seasoning. Tilt the glass and move the outside rim of the glass around in the tajin to coat it. Put all of the remaining ingredients into a blender, but start with 1 tablespoon of agave nectar (or honey). Blend for about 30 seconds, then taste the mixture and add the amount of agave nectar to match your preferred taste, before you blend some more. Don't be afraid to blend for another few seconds, then taste, and add more nectar, if needed, and blend again. There's no law saying you can only blend this once or twice; the "Mango Margarita Police" won't get you. Add some ice to the glass, pour in the mango margarita and a small sprig of mint is good for a garnish. I grow my own peppermint, so I use it. LOVE IT! I've got to go, a car shaped like a mango just pulled up and it's got "MMP" on the side. DAMN! "MMP" means "Mango Margarita Police!" 

* "Tajin" is a dry Mexican seasoning of lime, salt and ground chilies. It has a spicy, tart flavor, but it is not overly "hot." It is available in many supermarkets, Latino markets or spice shops. 

WORD HISTORY:
Mallow (Marshmallow)-The origin of this word for a particular genus of plant is not completely known, although it "may" be from a Middle Eastern source. Ancient Greek had transliterated "maláche" and Latin had "malva," but they seem to have borrowed the word separately^ and the Greeks and the Romans  picked up a number of words from the general area of the Middle East. The Latin word was borrowed into many European languages, including English, long ago, as Old English had "mealwe," as a name for these plants. This then evolved into modern "mallow." "Marshmallows" are so called, because the sap of the mallow plant was originally used to make these sweet, puffy confections, and the plants usually grow in and around marshes, and this was a common name for the plant in English, which prevailed among the English people, rather than the developing scientific term from Latin "malva."     

^ Latin borrowed a number of words from Greek, but "malva" does not appear to be one of them.   

Michelada Cocktail: A Toast To Mexico!

A "Michelada Cocktail" is from our southern neighbor, Mexico. Since before becoming president of the United States, Donald Trump had shown more than a little disrespect for Mexico and its people. Of course, Trump shows disrespect for many people, except Nazis and Vladimir Putin. So, if you decide to visit the White House, put on a Nazi armband; nothing fancy, any old Nazi armband will do, and you're sure to be given a warm welcome, which may even include a "heil" or two.

There are variations to this beer-based cocktail, including the use of tomato juice or Clamato.*


Ingredients (per 10 to 12 ounce drink):

light colored beer like Corona or Modelo
juice of 1/2 lime
lime wedge to rub around glass rim and outer edge
some chili powder mixed with some salt (or Mexican Tajin seasoning**) 
1 to 2 teaspoons of your favorite hot sauce
a pinch of cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
cucumber slice
lime slice
ice cubes

Mix a teaspoon of salt with about 2 tablespoons of chili powder on a small plate (or use Tajin seasoning). Use a large chilled glass or beer mug and take a wedge of lime and rub it over the rim and outer edge of the glass. Dip the lime juice moistened glass rim into the seasoning, making sure to then tilt the glass and roll it in the chili powder mix so that the outer edge of the glass also gets a coating of the seasoning. To the glass add the lime juice, the hot sauce, the pinch of cayenne pepper, the Worcestershire sauce, a few ice cubes and then fill the glass with beer. Give it a stir and add a slice of cucumber and a slice of lime to the side of the glass for garnishes.   

* "Clamato" is a brand of drink, which is a mixture of tomato juice, clam juice/broth and some seasonings. It is produced by Motts, a Keurig Dr. Pepper company.    

** "Tajin" is a dry Mexican seasoning of lime, salt and ground chilies. It has a spicy, tart flavor, but it is not overly "hot." It is available in many supermarkets, Latino markets or spice shops.  

WORD HISTORY:
Pint-This word is closely related to "paint." It goes back to Indo European "peig/peikh," which meant "to cut, to carve," the notion of which led to, "to carve decorations into an object." This gave its Italic/Latin offspring "pingere," and the idea of "decorate or adorn" broadened further into "decorate with color;" thus came the meaning, "to paint." The participle of "pingere" was "picta" ("painted") and this produced, "pincta," which meant, "a mark painted on a container to show a particular quantity." This passed into Latin-based Old French as "pinte," meaning, "a measurement of liquid." English borrowed the word as "pinte" in the mid 1300s, but it wasn't long before the ending "e" was dropped. By the mid 1700s, the word had also come to be used for a pint of ale.