Yes, it's turning into another gloomy, rainy, wet, all-around yucky day. Don't despair, though, there's reason to celebrate. Today (Feb. 22) is National Margarita Day.

A bit of history: The classic margarita was likely first created sometime in the 1930’s or 1940’s. Frozen margaritas come about in the 1970’s when a bartender used a soft serve ice cream unit to make frozen margaritas. Now, people can routinely order them on the rocks (over ice) or frozen and in various flavors including strawberry, peach, mango, pomegranate and banana.

Many Columbus restaurants serve delicious variations on the classic margarita. If you want to make your own at home, here are a few recipes to try. Enjoy!

Classic Margarita on the rocks

2 ounces tequila

1 ounce triple sec

1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

Salt for garnish

Lime wedge for garnish

Use lime wedge to moisten rim of tequila glass. Dip the glass in a shallow plate of kosher, sea or margarita salt. Combine liquids in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a margarita glass with several ice cubes. Sip.

Strawberry Margarita

3 cups strawberries

1/4 cup triple sec

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

3/4 cup tequila

3 cups ice

In a blender, blend the 3 cups strawberries, triple sec, lime juice and tequila. Add 3 cups ice and blend until smooth. Divide among 4 glasses. Optional: Give your glasses a sugar rim.

Slushy Margarita with Sorbet

(pictured)

1 lime cut into wedges

Kosher salt to rim glasses

1 1/2 cups crushed ice

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1 cup blood orange sorbet (or your favorite flavor)

1/2 cup silver tequila

3 ounces triple sec

2 ounces orange juice (preferably fresh)

2 ounces amaretto

In a blender, combine ice, lime juice, sorbet, tequila, triple sec, orange juice and amaretto. Blend until slushy. Pour into salt-rimmed glasses. Sip and relax. Makes four slushy cocktails.