Recipe Friday: SANGRIA!!!!!

I love sangria, it is good for sipping while sitting on the porch at night relaxing. It is refreshing and cool. There are no real rules to making it, adjust the additional alcohol to suit your tastes, you may use rum, brandy, cognac, contreau, peach schnapps, triple sec, etc. The fruits can be changed around, it can also be red or white wine, play with it until you get it the way you want, then write it down. And share that recipe with me!!

Some recipes call for sugar to be added, I make a simple syrup with equal parts sugar and water (boiled, then left to cool) to avoid the crystals of sugar invading what is otherwise a smooth cocktail. I use anywhere from 1/4-1/2 c. according to my taste.

Some folks put the fruit in a little alcohol first, muddle the fruit (which means kind of chopping it up a little with the end of a spoon, allowing it to sit overnight.

I use this recipe and tweak it a little:

Sangria

1 750ml bottle red wine (merlot)
1/4 C. Triple Sec or peach schnapps (I like schnapps better, it isn't bitter)
1/4 - 1/2 c. rum, brandy, cognac, (your choice)
1 whole orange cut into thin slices
1 whole lemon cut into thin slices
1 small whole apple, seeded and chopped
4-5 strawberries, sliced
1 whole lime, cut into thin slices
1/4-1/2 c. simple syrup, cooled (see note)
1 bottle club soda or lemon lime soda (you'll add to taste)
1 8 oz. container orange juice (add to taste)

Add all of the ingredients to a rather large pitcher, I use a 1/2 gallon to 1 gallon depending on how many bottles of wine I pour into the jar. Allow to sit overnight.

Add orange juice and club soda to taste, serve over ice garnished with orange and lemon slices.

NOTE*****Make a simple syrup with equal parts sugar and water (boiled, then left to cool) to avoid the crystals of sugar invading what is otherwise a smooth cocktail. I use anywhere from 1/4-1/2 c. according to my taste.