whatamelon punch recipe... be careful!

It's only Tuesday and I'm already talking cocktails. I can't help it, I may very well have discovered this summer's house cocktail this past weekend during my tequila cooking class.

Award-winning bartender, owner of Elixir, tequila pal extraordinaire, H Ehrmann, came to shake up some cocktails with my students in my kitchen on Sunday. H is knowledgeable, passionate and one hell of a bartender. Whatamelon Punch comes with serious warnings. You'd never know there's lots of blanco tequila in it. Muddled with sweet fresh watermelon and a splash of St Germain Elderflower, my, my, my! My fiance is an attorney so may this be your warning! I am not liable.

Sunny, warm, very un-San Francisco kind of summer day. I had no problem downing three in one sitting. Dangerously delicious! Go for it!

WHATMELON PUNCH

To "slap" the mint, place the sprig on one palm and slap with the other hand to give a burst of mint flavor and aroma.

5 to 6 1-inch watermelon cubes
6 mint leaves
1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila (we used PARTIDA!)
1 ounce St. Germain Elderflower liqueur
1/2 ounce agave nectar
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
Mint sprigs as a garnish

Place the watermelon cubes and 5 of the mint leaves in a mixing glass and muddle for 5 to 10 seconds. Add the tequila, St. Germain, agave nectar and lime juice. Fill with plenty of ice and shake for 10 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Garnish with a slapped piece of mint.

Makes one drink

doctor's orders

IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUE:

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?

Do you suffer from shyness?

Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas. Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Margaritas. Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas.

Side effects may include:

Dizziness - Nausea - Vomiting - Incarceration - Erotic lustfulness - Loss of motor control - Loss of clothing - Loss of money - Table dancing - Headache - Dehydration - Dry mouth - And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNINGS:

The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not. The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends non-stop that you love them.

The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.

The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

Please share this with anyone who may need Margaritas.

Thank you.

FRESH CHERRY MARGARITA

You probably know créme de cassis from a infamous French kir or kir royale. It's a 30 proof blood-red liqueur made from black currents. It has deep woodland berry notes and a sweetness thst balances well balanced against the acidity. It would remind you of a full-flavored berry jam. Drink it quickly to retain it's clean fruitiness. I love the stuff.

1 handful of fresh cherries, about 12, pitted
1 1/2 ounce blanco 100% agave tequila
1/2 ounce créme de cassis
1/2 ounce agave nectar
1/2 ounce water
3/4 ounce lime fresh lime juice
Fresh cherries as a garnish

Place the cherries in a shaker and muddle or mash them for 1 minute. Add the tequila, créme de cassis, agave nectar, water, lime juice and lots of ice cubes. Place the top on the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Immediately strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a cherries and serve immediately.

Serves 1

chuck williams

Chuck Williams has been an incredible supporter and friend of mine over the years. After writing 13 cookbooks together for Williams-Sonoma, I have gotten to know him pretty well. We did a variety of cookbooks together and just to give you an idea of how versatile we were in those days, we wrote "Pork and Lamb" and our very next book was "Vegetarian!" I think "Complete Seasons," is still my personal favorite though.

In 1994, I got my first contract for a cookbook to do on my own. At that point, I got really busy and didn't have time to do cookbooks for Williams-Sonoma anymore. I remember when my first cookbook came out, "From Tapas to Meze" who came to my book launch at the Ritz Carlton? Chuck Williams!!

My most recent book "Tequila" was just launched and Williams-Sonoma bought the whole first print run. This doesn't happen often with a cookbook but it's an author's dream! They asked me to do a big event at the flagship store on Union Square in San Francisco to celebrate the book. Who do you think came and sat front row, center? YUP! CHUCK WILLIAMS! In his nineties now, , ninety-three to be exact, he's a legend in our time. He sat with his little pot of tea as I talked reposado tequila, Coco Loco Tequila Cupcakes and made Chorizo Hand Pies. He smiled the whole time.

At the end he pulled me aside before he drove himself home(!!!!) and said in his quiet, gentle and self-effacing voice, "You've got a great idea here, Joanne. I love your book!"

my new favorite tequila cocktail, the prado

I'm talking about one of the absolute best tequila cocktails, the Prado. I'm not talking Prada, the designer, or the art museum in Madrid. No, no, no! Tequila is playing a big, big, big role in my house these days with the launch of my new TEQUILA book and for the last 3 Saturdays I've shaken up this tequila cocktail. Inspired by Kacy Fitch of ZigZag Cafe in Seattle, this is what I call sophistication in a glass. Throw a couple ounces of blanco tequila into a shaker with lime juice, Maraschino liqueur and egg white. Maraschino liqueur is made from crushing Marasca cherries pits which give the liqueur a mellow almond-flavor. Kacy doesn't do it, but I like to add a teaspoon of agave nectar. Next, shake it up so vigorously that you're winded and don't need to work out! Open the shaker and the trick is with a small whisk, I go like crazy to add some additional foam! Strain it into chilled martini glasses. It's sexy, it's frothy, its luscious. Check out the recipe.