*Note* I was not hired by nor given any gifts and/or compensation by Ruth's Chris for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I ordered the strawberry and spinach salad with shaved fennel and a champagne vinaigrette to start. My entree choice was the grilled salmon with lump crab meat and a side of broiled tomatoes. You know what was crazy? Those tomatoes were the best dang tomatoes I've ever had IN MY LIFE. I never knew you could transform a tomato so much. It's comparable to when Da Vinci took a plain piece of canvas and transformed it into the Mona Lisa. That's what they did to these tomatoes!
Yep, you heard me right. A skinny one.
Honestly, when it comes to alcoholic drinks I usually don't mind if it's "skinny" or not. If you're going to have a celebratory cocktail or have a nice glass of wine with dinner, then you shouldn't worry about how many calories the drink is. Just enjoy it. I don't drink alcohol that often anyways other than a small glass of wine occasionally so when I make a special cocktail at home, it's definitely time to splurge a little! But this drink is also for the health conscious and those who might just want to have a lighter margarita.
This would be perfect in the summer when you can get fresh, plump, juicy blackberries. I can't wait to try it with those this summer!
Skinny Blackberry Margarita
1/2 cup water
3 Tbsp. Splenda sugar blend
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
6 oz. blackberries
1/3-1/2 cup tequila
Use a small sauce pan to heat water to boiling, then add 3 Tbsp. Splenda sugar blend (or 1/4 cup sugar). Stir until sugar fully dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Meanwhile, add fresh orange juice, fresh lime juice, blackberries and preferred amount of tequila to blender. I used Jose Cuervo Silver Especial Blue Agave tequila. Once simple syrup (water with sugar) is cool, add to blender.
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour margarita mixture over mesh strainer into cup or bowl and press down on the remaining pulp and seeds to get all of the juices you can out of it. Place margarita mixture in fridge until ready to use.
Healthy Recipe Tidbits
- Using the Splenda sugar blend vs. regular sugar cuts down on calories and makes this drink more diabetic friendly as well.
- Blackberry juice is rich in Vitamin C, beta carotene, and antioxidants. Antioxidants are well-known for lowering the risk of a number of cancers.
- Blackberry juice has also been shown to help reduce inflammation. It can aid in the relief of arthritis symptoms.