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
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.