Have you heard of color therapy? It really does exist. Researchers have found that different colors affect our moods in different ways. Well, cocktails also affect my mood, glass of wine ~ feeling pretty good. One too many glasses ~ not so good.

I usually opt for the traditional margarita. I don’t think  I had a choice, but to love them. Growing up, my parents ran that blender every Sunday afternoon while hanging out by the pool. Yes, Jose Cuervo and I have a history.

Little did I know, back then, there was a whole spectrum of margarita colors to be made. So how about a little cocktail ~ color therapy to start off the week? Keep reading and see which color your week calls for. I’m going for blue!

CHEERS to seeking out a little variety in life this week!

Red ~The most emotionally intense color. It stimulates our heart to beat faster and breathing to increase. It’s also the color of love. Red will definitely attract a little attention.

Traditional Strawberry Margarita

Strawberries, sliced in syrup

Tequila

Frozen limeade concentrate

Triple sec

Ratio 4:3:2:1

Add strawberries to the basic frozen margarita recipe.  Here is a tip, if you do not have strawberries in syrup, use fresh strawberries and add a few tablespoons of simple syrup or powdered sugar.

Serve in glass rimmed with sugar (optional)

Orange ~This is a high-energy color. Orange is about creativity and playfulness.

Pineapple and Lime Margarita (From Company’s Coming)

Lime wedges 2

Coarse (or regular) salt 2 tbsp.

Pineapple juice 4 cups

Lime juice 1 cup

Gold tequila 2/3 cup

Orange liqueur 1/3 cup

Ice cubes

Lime wedges, for garnish

Run lime wedges around rims of 6 margarita glasses. Press and twist rims into salt in small saucer. Combine next 4 ingredients in pitcher. Makes about 6 cups. Divide among prepared glasses. Add ice cubes. Garnish with lime wedges.

Pink ~ conveys compassion and an open heart. It’s romantic, charming, and girly.

Prickly Pear Margarita (from My Sweet and Saucy)

serves 6

3 1/2 cups crushed ice

3 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice

3 oz. frozen limeade

6  oz. Tequila

4 1/2 oz. Cointreau

3 oz. prickly pear cactus juice

3 T. sugar 

Lime wedges and kosher salt for garnish

In a blender, add all of the ingredients (minus the garnish) and pulse it until the ice is completely blended. Taste and add more sugar if necessary.  

Rub some of the lime around the rim of the glasses and then dip the glasses into the salt.  Pour in the drink and garnish with a lime.  Enjoy!

Yellow ~ The most cheerful color. It’s associated with warmth, optimism, and light. Need some cheering up? This one’s for you!

Banana Margarita  (Drink Swap)

1 oz. tequila

½ oz. triple sec

1 oz. Crème de Bananes

¾ oz. lemon juice

¼ mashed banana

Apply lemon juice to the rim of a frosted double-cocktail glass, and dip into caster sugar. Fill the glass with crushed ice, add the ingredients and blend briefly. Serve with a lemon juice-dipped slice of banana.

Green ~ This color is calming and refreshing, symbolic of nature. It represents new growth and life.

Honeydew Rita  (From, Noble Pig)
adapted from Cuisine at Home

4 cups ice cubes
3 cups honeydew melon, peeled, seeded, cut into chunks
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 drop of green food coloring (optional)

Honeydew spears
Sprigs of fresh mint

Rub the rims of 4-6 cocktail glasses with limes, then coat in salt or sugar (depending on your taste preference).  I like sugar, the Wild Boar likes salt.  Go figure.
Blend ice, melon, tequila, honey and lime juice in a blender until smooth.  Divide between prepared glasses.
Garnish with melon and mint sprigs.

Blue ~ This is the color of tranquility. It represents peacefulness. Just like your favorite pair of jeans, this color evokes comfort.

Blue Margarita (From What’s Cooking America)

1 teaspoon coarse salt
4 ounces Tequila
2 ounces Triple Sec
2 ounces freshly-squeezed lime juice
2 ounces blue Curacao
2 teaspoons superfine sugar
2 (1/4-inch) slices star fruit for garnish (optional)
1 lime, cut into wedges

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.

Place Tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice, blue Curacao, and sugar in the shaker; shake hard for 30 seconds.

Serve in Margarita Glasses with coarse salt or Margarita Salt on the rims of the glasses. Strain the Blue Margarita into the glasses. Garnish each with a slice of star fruit or a lime wedge.

Purple~ represents royalty. It symbolizes power, luxury, and independence. In need of some royal treatment anyone?

Raspberry Lemon Margarita (From Food Network)

2 cups ice cubes

1 cup frozen raspberries

1/4 cup club soda

2 tablespoons frozen lemonade mix

2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided

3 ounces tequila

Salt, for garnish

Place ice in blender and pulse several times, to begin breaking it up. Add raspberries, club soda, lemonade mix, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and tequila and blend until thick and smooth, about 30 seconds.

Pour 1 tablespoon or so of lemon juice into a small saucer. In another saucer, pour a thin layer of salt (table salt, or kosher is even better). Dip the rims of the glassed in the lemon juice, then the salt. Pour frozen mix into salted glass and serve.