Spicy Pineapple Margaritas

Perfect Pairing:  Good tequila

Since I started Perfecting the Pairing the first blog post each January is something really healthy.  It’s always a recipe to help with those New Year’s Resolutions.  In the past I have posted about a light Berries n’ Cream Dessert, the uber-healthy diet food, Chicken Vegetable Barley Soup, Sweet Sesame Green Beans, and a hearty Spaghetti Squash Pizza Casserole.  This year was to be no different, except life caught up with me and it just didn’t happen.  I did jump right on the healthy bandwagon, it just didn’t quite make it to the blog.

I kept telling myself to do it, but now we are well into January and the healthy resolutions post lost some luster.  Why not move onto something more inviting in these frigid temperatures?  Something that will remind you of being on a beach somewhere.  MARGARITAS.  Not just any margarita, a Spicy Pineapple Margarita with a cinnamon sugar rim.  Yes, please.  Add some guac and the Latin Heat Pandora station and you are basically on vacation. 

I made these margaritas with an incredible tequila, Hotel California Reposado.  It is hands down the best, smoothest tequila I have ever tasted.  It also comes in a gorgeous red glass bottle, which I am obsessed with.

When my parents are on vacation they tend to make friends.  They’ll chat with the staff, the person next to them by the pool, or the person next to them at a restaurant.  I love it!  They have made some wonderful friends through the years.  Last year while in Cabo my mom and I met a beautiful new friend named Paula while relaxing with an ocean view.  After chatting with her and her husband for some time we found out that they own and operate the Hotel California Tequila company.  Their tequila is award winning and highly rated.  The Reposado I used scored 93 points with The Critico Official Tequila Rating Co.  You could sip it on the rocks.  Or, make some quality margaritas.

One year ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Creole Jicama Hash with a Sunny Side Up Egg

Two years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Southwestern Chicken Slow Cooker Soup

Three years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Arugula and Parmesan Stuffed Potatoes

Four years ago on Perfecting the Pairing: Lasagna Soup

Spicy Pineapple Margaritas

Lindsay at Perfecting the Pairing

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup good tequila
• 1 jalapeno, sliced
• 1 cup triple sec
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 cup lime juice
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• Cinnamon sugar

Directions:

Steep the jalapeno slices in the tequila for 4-8 hours, drain.  Combine the spicy tequila, triple sec, cinnamon, vanilla, lime juice, and pineapple juice in a picture.  Dip the top of the serving glasses in water or lime juice, then in the cinnamon sugar, allow to set.  Pour the margarita mixture over ice in a martini shaker, shake and serve on the rocks in the rimmed glass.

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