Cool Dad, Cool Summer Cooler, Sangria

Cool Dad, Cool Summer Cooler, Sangria

Father’s Day this past Sunday meant Hubby’s Choice.  We did whatever he wanted to do, eat, and play. Here is my Haiku for Father’s Day

He walked in the morn

Ate fried chicken Played Fortnite

She drank Sangria

Yep,  the Sangria was for me.  Sangria was the perfect complement to our Dad Driven Dinner of fried chicken, potato salad, fresh corn on the cob grilled, served as Elote (my latest obsession), and a berry melange with oranges.  AmIRite?

So I pulled out a bottle of red wine, not the pricey stuff, and made a large pitcher of Sangria. It’s light, it’s festive, it’s refreshing and delicious, one of my favorite drinks.  Perfect for hot summer days and alfresco dining.

Over the years I have tweaked a recipe I first found in Cooking Light magazine.  The tweaks entail adding more alcohol, imagine that.  Feel free to add your favorite fruits, the sky’s the limit.  I added blueberries and lime slices to this batch.  Apples would also be great, or other berries.  To bring out the flavors of the fruit, when you add the fruit to the wine mixture, muddle them lightly.  Totally optional.  Get fancy by garnishing the glass with a wedge of citrus or a strawberry.  If you’re in party mode, hit it with a splash of Brandy.

Did I mention we finished with homemade apple pie?  Happy Father’s Day!

Sangria

Take red wine, add a little bit of sugar, oranges, lemons, cinnamon, and cloves. Then take it over the top with a splash of Triple Sec, Brandy and Club Soda, that’s Sangria!
Course Drinks
Cuisine Spanish
Keyword Red Wine, Sangria, Summer Cooler
Prep Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 750 ml bottle of red wine, inexpensive but drinkable Riojas would be lovely, low tannin, younger wine
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup Triple Sec or Brandy
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 strip orange peel 4” long
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced & seeded
  • 1 orange thinly sliced & seeded
  • Splash brandy
  • 2 cups Club Soda or Sparkling Water

Garnish

  • any fresh fruit

Instructions

  • Combine the first 4 ingredients in a large pitcher, stirring mixture until the sugar dissolves.
  • Press cloves into the rind strip.  Add strip, cinnamon, and fruit to wine mixture. 
  • Chill for at least 30 minutes.  Stir in club soda just before serving.  Serve over ice.
  • Garnish with additional fruit.

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