MAROON MARGARITA

MAKES 4 DRINKS

This cocktail is the official drink of our "down south" residence, the Maroon House: an ode to enslaved Blacks who escaped plantations to establish settlements in remote places like the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina, and the Florida Everglades. We are sort of escaping in reverse, leaving the Northern hustle for the calm Southern sanity. A journey like that calls for its own drink!

MAROON MARGARITA MIX (MAKES 1% CUPS):

cup unsweetened coconut flakes

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups packed dark brown sugar

1 cup water

3 cups hulled strawberries

Zest of 2 limes

Juice of 8 ilmes

¼ cup kosher salt, for rimming the glass

Zest of 1 orange (about 3 tablespoons)

2 limes, cut into wedges

Ice

ounces margarita mix

3 ounces tequila

1 ounce orange liqueur

FOR THE MAROON MARGARITA MIX: In a medium saucepan, toast the coconut flakes over medium- low heat until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the salt, sugar, water, strawberries, and lime zest and juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer. Partially cover the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes, or until the liquid is thickened to a syrup. About halfway through the cooking time, begin mashing the strawberries using a potato masher and continue to mash occasionally as they cook. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. (The margarita mix will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks.)

FOR THE MARGARITA Combine the salt and the orange zest on a plate. Run the lime wedges around the rims of four rocks glasses. Dip the rims into the orange salt to coat and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 4 ounces of the margarita mix, the tequila, and the orange liqueur. Shake for 15 seconds, until frothy, then strain into the prepared cocktail glasses over ice. Serve.

MAKES 4 DRINKS

This cocktail is the official drink of our "down south" residence, the Maroon House; an ode to enslaved Blacks who escaped plantations to establish settlements in remote places like the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina, and the Florida Everglades. We are sort of escaping in reverse, leaving the Northern hustle for the calm Southern sanity. A journey like that calls for its own drink!

MAROON MARGARITA MIX (MAKES 1½ CUPS):

½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes

¼ cup kosher salt, for rimming the glass Zest of 1 orange (about 3 tablespoons)

teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups packed dark brown sugar

1 cup water

2 limes, cut into wedges Ice

3 cups hulled strawberries

ounces margarita mix

Zest of 2 limes

3 ounces tequila

Juice of 8 limes

1 ounce orange liqueur

FOR THE MAROON MARGARITA MIX: In a medium saucepan, toast the coconut flakes over medium- low heat until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the salt, sugar, water, strawberries, and lime zest and juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer. Partially cover the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes, or until the liquid is thickened to a syrup. About halfway through the cooking time, begin mashing the strawberries using a potato masher and continue to mash occasionally as they cook. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely. (The margarita mix will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks.)

FOR THE MARGARITA: Combine the salt and the orange zest on a plate. Run the lime wedges around the rims of four rocks glasses. Dip the rims into the orange salt to coat and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 4 ounces of the margarita mix, the tequila, and the orange liqueur. Shake for 15 seconds, until frothy, then strain into the prepared cocktail glasses over ice. Serve.