Making popular summer cocktails like Piña Coladas and Margaritas from scratch is easier than you may think.

If you are tired of buying and drinking those sugary colada and margarita mixes, just make them from scratch! These two summer favorites have very few ingredients and taste way better when they are made with real ingredients, as opposed to bottled mixes. Also, the cost of buying the ingredients is cheaper than buying the pre-made mixes. Once you taste these, you’ll never buy those sugary mixes again!

BLUE LAGOON

Courtesy of John Argento, owner of Surf City, NJ – Serves 2

This two-part drink is a frozen Piña Colada in a pint glass that is immersed in a fishbowl filled with a Blue Lagoon.

Fish Bowl Ingredients:

• 2 oz Rum
• 1 oz Blue Curaçao
• 20 oz Lemonade

Piña Colada from Scratch Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Light rum
• 2 oz Coco Lopez Cream of coconut
• 2 oz Pineapple juice
• 1 cup Crushed ice

Preparation: Pour rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice into a blender with one cup of crushed ice. Blend until smooth, and pour into a pint glass.

MARGARITA

Courtesy of Food Network Kitchen

Ingredients:

• Ice cubes
• 3 oz 123 Tequila
• 2 oz Freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 oz Simple Syrup*
• 1/2 to 1 tsp Orange liqueur
• 1 tbsp Lime-salt-sugar**

Preparation: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup and orange liqueur. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds (in general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up). Place Lime-salt-sugar on a plate. Press the rim of a chilled rocks or wine glass into the mixture to rim the edge. Strain margarita into the glass.

*Simple Syrup:

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Water

Preparation: Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

**Lime-salt-sugar:

• Zest of 1 lime
• 2 tbsp Kosher salt
• 2 tbsp Sugar

Preparation: Blend together lime, salt and sugar in a small blender or mini food chopper.

The BEST way to squeeze a lime is to use a citrus juicer. Chef’n makes a great one called the Fresh Force. Check it out on www.chefn.com.