Margaritas are one of the most festive summer drinks--and the ones most susceptible to too many sugar-laden ingredients.  In reality, all a great margarita needs is a few things: good tequila, juicy limes, a dash of sweetness, and a handful of ice.  If you want to get carried away, you can rim your glass with salt, but I never do. 

With this in mind, I present to you my naked margarita, stripped from the overly-sweet triple sec or other frou-frou ingredients, so that you taste nothing but the sweet burn of tequila and lime on your tongue. I like to make mine using agave syrup.  But If I'm in a pinch, I've been known to use my stevia herb simple syrup or actual simple syrup (recipe found here--just omit the ginger, or keep it for an extra kick!).  Play around with the sweetness factor.  I like to taste the tartness of the lime more than the sweet, so if you like a sweeter drink, by all means, add more simple syrup. Look for tequila that is 100% agave; the other stuff is full of more additives and fake coloring than actual tequila.  And please, please, please use fresh organic limes--they make all the difference in the world.

Ingredients:

1 oz fresh lime juice

2 oz tequila

1/2 oz agave nectar

ice

Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake thoroughly until ice begins to melt, about 30 seconds.  Strain into chilled glass.  Garnish with a lime if desired.  Makes one serving.  Feel free to be as naked as your margarita while you drink it.  Enjoy!