The Lush Chef

I had picked up a bunch of blood oranges last week to make this Boat House Punch, and had some left over.  So when I saw this recipe from Aida Mollenkamp for a Blood Orange & Thyme Paloma, I just couldn't resist.  Palomas are like a twist on margaritas, except there's grapefruit soda in place of the Cointreau.  I took a slight departure from Aida's recipe, by combining fresh blood orange juice and club soda instead of using San Pellegrino's Blood Orange Soda.  Either way is fine — I'm just a sucker for fresh juices.  

Blood Orange & Thyme Paloma
Ingredients:

• 12 sprigs of thyme with leaves removed and roughly chopped
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2 oz tequila (I used Patrón Silver)
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 3 oz blood orange juice
• 3 oz club soda
• Lime wedge and sprig of thyme, for garnish

- In a small dish, combine the thyme and salt, using your fingers to crush and combine the mixture.
- Run a lime wedge along the rim of the glass.
- Dip the edge of the glass into the thyme and salt mixture.
- Add ice, a pinch of the thyme salt, tequila, the lime and blood orange juices and club soda.
- Stir and garnish with the lime wedge and thyme sprig.