Toast to Summer
by Julie Johnson, Tastemaker in Residence
It already feels like summer here in Minnesota even though we haven’t hit the Summer Solstice which marks the first day of summer and the longest day of the year! Temperatures have been hanging steady in the 80s and 90s for the past few weeks, the lakes are already bustling with boaters, and the longer days make evening walks a simple pleasure.
The Summer Solstice is uniquely celebrated by different cultures. One example is Native Americans celebrate by performing sun dances. Although I won’t be participating in any sun dances as a toast to summer, I will embrace the warm temperatures, the ability to socialize at backyard BBQs or catch a game at the ball field.
Backyard BBQs are the perfect way to keep the heat sources for cooking outside and the perfect time to experiment with a new craft cocktail! I’m not one to imbibe many cocktails but had the inspiration to create a smoked pineapple margarita. The recipe is provided here for you to raise your glass as a toast to summer. Cheers!
Smoked Pineapple Margarita
Ingredients
1 -1 ½ shots of tequila
1 shot Cointreau
2 - 3 shots smoked pineapple juice*
½ shot agave nectar
Organic cane sugar or salt for the rim
Smoked pineapple as garnish
*I placed approximately 8 ounces of pineapple juice and some slices of pineapple in a foil tray, placed the tray in a smoker, and smoked the juice and pineapple for about 20 minutes.
Instructions
Place sugar or salt on a small plate. Rub a slice of pineapple around margarita glass rim and then dip rim in sugar or salt.
Fill cocktail shaker and margarita glass with ice.
Add tequila, Cointreau, smoked pineapple juice, and agave nectar to cocktail shaker. Shake well and then pour over ice in margarita glass
Add pineapple slice to rim as garnish
Enjoy!