The El Paso Chile Company Margarita Cookbook

Fun and inebriation abound between the covers of The El Paso Chile Company Margarita Cookbook. Running out of things to do with tequila? W. Park Kerr, founder of the El Paso Chile Company, offers dozens of drink (and a few food) recipes, each containing at least a little of the fiery elixir. From the Kentucky Club Margarita (the one we all know and love) to fancy margaritas containing Cointreau, Midori, and Curaçao, Kerr serves up drink ideas in an intoxicating Texas vernacular. Margarita 1 to 1 to 1--a blend of equal parts tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice--is touted as being tasty and easy to remember. "Although," Kerr warns, "if you're having memory problems, a cup of coffee might be the wiser choice." Any cocktail party worth its salt has snacks too, and a dozen or so tequila-imbued tapas and salsas are represented here. Try Grilled Chicken Tortas with Charred Tomato Salsa Borracho (which Kerr recommends eating outside, "at a table you can hose off afterward") for a delicious, if messy, accompaniment to your favorite distilled Mexican spirit. Spicy, alcoholic, and festive, The Margarita Cookbook is just the book to get your fiesta started. Cleaning up, unfortunately, is up to you. --David Kalil