No vacation plans? No problem.
The Nutritionist-Approved, 5-Ingredient Margarita That Tastes Like Summer
Laurie Lloyd, a Miami-based holistic health coach and nutritionist and founder of LivLight—a non-intimidating guide to food, health, and well-being—has appreciated the wonders (and tastes) of good food since she was just a child. While friends stuck to the kids' menu, Lloyd had a father who loved cooking up unique and diverse meals. "My dad is a terrific cook and exposed us to all types of food since we were very little,” she says. “I remember eating things like saffron risotto and lamb cannelloni as a young child—not very common for a family in the Midwest in the ’80s."
Llyod inherited her dad's unabashed enthusiasm in the kitchen. "I've always enjoyed being in the kitchen and creating 'concoctions'!" she says. And just as her father enjoyed prepping meals for the family, cooking has become an outlet for Lloyd since she had children of her own.
Of course, now that she's sitting at the grown-ups' table, Lloyd has learned to apply some of the adventurous tastes she was raised on to her cocktail preferences, which is how she came up with her go-to margarita recipe.
"I rarely measure and love to throw together a little of bit of this and a little bit of that and see what happens," she says. "My husband and I both love to cook, so [the kiitchen] is a happy place for us. We are also obsessed with traveling and many of my recipes are [healthier] versions of favorites from our travels."
Mexican cuisine is high on her favorite-foods list, and Lloyd is a big proponent of mealtime as a way for family and friends to connect. "Growing up, my weekday meals were pretty simple, but every Sunday we had a big family dinner with two other families on our street,” she says. “I remember how much joy this brought everyone and loved watching the grown-ups create these delicious and comforting meals. I absolutely love to entertain, and there is nothing I love more than having friends over for a great cheese board and cocktails or dinner."
It might be a while before Lloyd can throw a big block party for dozens, but in the meantime, she's still planning to whip up her no-fail margarita recipe this summer. While her version brings the heat, you can easily hold the jalapeño—or stick to just a slice or two—to tone down the spice. "I created this margarita recipe to have a lower-sugar option [of one of my favorite drinks] that is still totally delicious,” she says. “I have been making it for years, and everyone loves it." The best part it’s only five ingredients if you don’t count the ice. Follow Lloyd's drool-worthy creations @livlight on Instagram. And below, follow her delicious (and foolproof) recipe for the perfect margarita.
- 2 oz. Casamigos Blanco tequila (or any type of tequila)
- 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3 to 4 oz. club soda
- A few slices of jalapeño (remove the seeds for less heat)
- ⅛ tsp. Stevia or other sugar-free sweetener (or a splash of fresh orange juice)
- Ice
Combine all of the ingredients in a glass and mix well, until the liquid is ice cold. If you like your margaritas extra spicy, muddle the jalapeños in the glass first. This margarita can also be made in a martini shaker and served over ice.
Looking for something you can sip at any hour? Here are some alcohol-free drink options from LivLight that we love: Double Chocolate PB Green Smoothie, Mint Chip Smoothie, Clean Green Smoothie, LivLight Signature Smoothie, Don’t Get Pinched Smoothie. Cheers!
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Shilpa Prabhakar Nadella
