There is no way to make a really inexpensive Margarita. You have to use decent tequila in it or it will be vile tasting. See link below.

Lee AKA Fireraven9
If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water. -Â Â Loren Eisley

Here is a link that might be useful: DigsMagazine.com : drink recipe: Margarita

A real margarita is not necessarily frozen and any salt can be used ... go here - http://www.flash.net/~whaugen/margarita.htm or here http://cocktails.about.com/library/recipes/blmarguarita.htm - for a simple recipe. Go to link below for the frozen type.

Lee AKA Fireraven9
If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water. -Â Â Loren Eisley

Here is a link that might be useful: good recipe

Lee - I've used the limeade recipe, and it works well. Lost my copy in a program crash, so thanks for posting it.

Margaritas dno't even have to be lime anymore, although the purist in me balks at that. Chevy's a chain restaurant in the western US, has made a niche for itself by offering all flavors of "margaritas" They usually make them with too much alcohol and not enough fruit, but the blood orange ones were surprisingly good.

About 25 years ago there was a place called the Chelsea Street Pub down in Albuquerque. They had margaritas in every color and flavor and it was best to share one. The bright blue (Blue Curaco) ones used to amaze me. Not sure the place is still open, but I remember it (with it's quaint "pub" decor) fondly.

Another favorite (I first had it in Tucson) is Mexican Coffee. Take a cup of hot strong coffee (no cheapo coffee), add a half shot of tequila, a shot of Kahlua and top with heavy whipped cream. The coffee makes it get to you faster. NOT a wake up drink. It is like dessert in a cup.

Lee AKA Fireraven9
If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water. -Â Â Loren Eisley

Mexican coffee...oh yes. Good stuff. Someone else can have my whipped cream though...just a splash of real unwhipped cream. (A texture thing).

We use "Mexican" cream (available in all local groceries) instead of whipped. It is as thick as sour cream, but creamy sweet tasting. The recipe calls for fluffy whipped and I am sure that restaurants find it less costly.

Lee AKA Fireraven9
If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water. -Â Â Loren Eisley

OOOOOHHHHH---y'all are making my mouth water just thinking of all these margaritas out there and poor me can't enjoy one in a restaurant here in Australia because they don't know how to make a decent one.

Thanks for all the input. I love browsing the sites and reading the suggestions. I do believe I will have to do quite a bit of 'taste-testing' to see which recipe is the best. It will be a difficult job, but I am willing to take on the responsibility :)

Heidi

Lee - sounds good, but trust me when I say that it's not in local groceries here. :) Mexican food here is Taco Bell.
I've started making my own tortillas because the ones that I can find here are just awful, so finding Mexican style diary is a long way off for us. sigh.

Heidi - you're tough, you can do it. We have faith. LOL!

Check out the site below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Margaritas for a crowd