Ginger-Infused Vodka (recipe follows)
Raspberry Cordial (recipe follows)
or
Rated X Fusion Liqueur (red)
Trader Joe's Margarita Mix (they use cane sugar, no corn syrup and no dyes)
Fill a martini shaker 2/3 with ice and pour in vodka until only the top of the icecubes are over the surface. Add a good dollop of the liqueur or cordial and fill to the top with the Margarita mix. (these directions will work for any size shaker...)
You can sugar the rim of the glass if you want.
Ginger-Infused Vodka
Peel roughly (a little of the skin won't matter) and chop one good size piece of ginger root. Add a fifth of good, unflavored vodka and put into a glass container in the refrigerator for about a week. Strain out the ginger and put in a bottle. We keep all our vodka in the freezer so that it is martini-ready.
Raspberry Cordial
Prepare simple syrup by dissolving 1 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water on the stove and heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Put it into a large pyrex or similar glass bowl and add 2 pints (give or take) of fresh raspberries and a fifth of good vodka. Put into the refrigerator for about 10 days (or until the color is a deep raspberry red) and then sift through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve and store in the refrigerator. This tastes like a sip of summer!!!