Patriotic Margaritas

PATRIOTIC MARGARITAS

Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Red Cocktail
1/4 cup cranberry juice cocktail
2 Tbsp. (1 oz.) silver tequila (clear)
2 Tbsp. (1 oz.) orange-flavored liqueur
1 Tbsp. simple syrup
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Ice
Lemon wedge
Colored sugar

To make simple syrup, mix sugar and water in 1-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool, about 1 hour. Pour syrup into glass jar, cover jar and refrigerate until needed. 1 1/4 cups (use 1 tablespoon per margarita). To prepare cocktail, add cranberry juice, tequila, orange-flavored liqueur, simple syrup and lemon juice to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake. Rub rim of martini glass with lemon wedge; dip in sugar. Strain cocktail into glass. Makes 1 cocktail.