Summertime Kick-off: Barefooter Style

If there's anything the Barefoot Girls know how to do, it's how to find fun in anything with the help of a little creativity, a lot of style, and some ribald humor thrown in for good measure. But, when it comes to Mean Greens, their famous "kicks you in the pants and makes you want to dance" margarita, the fun's already in the glass, and there's no better way to celebrate the arrival of summer than to kick off your shoes, Barefooter-style, and mix up a batch for your Memorial Day festivities!

However....it's a secret recipe. So secret and coveted, everyone on Captain's has been begging and bargaining for it to no avail for years. Per Keeley, the Queen Bee of the Barefoot Girls:

"Mean Greens were the Barefooter’s specialty – a powerful margarita made of top-shelf tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, a dusting of lime zest, a splash of homemade lemonade for sweetness, and two secret ingredients that would go to the grave with the four women."

If you read Barefoot Girls you probably wanted the recipe, especially if you enjoy margaritas. So, how are you going to make your own? Here's a great top-shelf margarita recipe
that should hold you as you fire up the grill for that first summertime cookout this holiday weekend:

Almost Mean Green Recipe

Equal parts of the following:

Patron Anejo Tequila

Grand Marnier

Freshly squeezed lime juice (don't cheat and use bottled, fresh matters!)

Homemade lemonade (recipe follows)

Lime wedges and kosher salt to garnish.

Mix together the tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice and lemonade in a pitcher using a long-handled spoon. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses over ice with wedges of lime to garnish. To rim your glass, wet the edge of the glass using a cut lime, then dip in a plate of kosher salt.

Prepare to dance.

NOTE: You can use pre-made lemonade (like Newman's Own in the carton), but it won't be as good.

Homemade Lemonade Recipe

10 medium lemons

1 1/4 cups sugar

5 cups ice-cold water

Cut lemons in half lengthwise. Slice thin.

Put sliced lemons in large saucepan, pour sugar over them and mash with a potato masher for 3-4 minutes. Put sieve over large bowl and put half the pulped lemons in the sieve. Press and continue to gently mash until all the liquid has been released. Discard solids and repeat with remaining pulped lemons.

Transfer liquid to serving pitcher and pour in cold water. Stir to blend well. Keep chilled until ready to mix up a batch of margaritas.

Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and may this summer be your best yet!