A 4th of July pitcher, salt-rimmed and stronger than it needs to be — straight from the Criss Creek kitchen.

There’s a 4th of July scene in Summer in the Moon Garden that I love because nothing dramatic happens in it — and everything does. The women in Kat’s family are crowded into the kitchen, pouring tequila and refusing to let her get away with looking casual.

“Come taste this margarita — it’ll put hair on your chest!” Aunt Gertie thrust a salt-rimmed glass toward her.

“Or take it off,” Millie muttered from the chair at the kitchen table.

Kat managed a weak smile, accepting the offered sample. The tart liquid burned a path down her throat, momentarily distracting her from her worries. “It’s a little strong,” she gasped, reaching for a chip.

“That’s the idea, dear,” Aunt Gertie winked.

That’s the whole Criss Creek kitchen in one exchange — the aunt who sees straight through you, and a margarita that’s stronger than strictly necessary. So here’s Aunt Gertie’s pitcher, the way she’d make it for a porch full of family on the 4th.

Aunt Gertie’s “Hair on Your Chest” Margaritas

Makes 1 pitcher (about 6 servings) · Prep 10 min

Made by the pitcher, the way Aunt Gertie does it — strong, tart, and salt-rimmed. Adjust the tequila down if you’d like to keep hair where it is.

Ingredients

1½ cups silver (blanco) tequila
1 cup fresh lime juice (about 8–10 limes)
¾ cup orange liqueur (such as triple sec or Cointreau)
½ cup water
3–4 tablespoons simple syrup or agave nectar, to taste
Coarse salt, for the rims
Lime wheels and ice, to serve

Instructions

1. Rim the glasses. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip into a saucer of coarse salt. Set aside.
2. Mix the pitcher. In a large pitcher, combine the tequila, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, water, and simple syrup. Stir well.
3. Taste and adjust. Too tart? Add a little more simple syrup. Not strong enough for Aunt Gertie? You know what to do.
4. Serve. Fill the salt-rimmed glasses with ice, pour, and garnish with a lime wheel. Serve cold.

Please enjoy responsibly — 21 and over.

Set out the chips while you’re at it

A pitcher like this needs something to go with it. At the Criss Creek gathering, it was Kat’s fresh lime guacamole, made at the counter while she watched the driveway for a certain truck.

→ Get Kat’s Fresh Lime Guacamole recipe

And if you’d like to spend the whole summer in Criss Creek with Kat, Danny, Aunt Gertie, and the rest, you can read the opening chapters of Summer in the Moon Garden free by filling out the form below.