“Anytime is Good” Sangria

I know what your’e thinking, “couple days late much?” Yes. We should have been a good foodies and actually made this before Cinco De Mayo but alas, sometimes spontaneity is good for you and furthermore, isn’t sangria good for just about anytime?

Growing up, Sangria always sounded dangerous, mildly illusive and to be honest a little naughty. Being quarter-hispanic, it was served at all our family reunions and it was always forbidden to the kids. I never even remember seeing it, but I always imagined it looking like blood because in Spanish it literally means “bloodletting.” I pictured it being this thick tomato-soup like substance that was hot and and concocted to bring out the crazy and dark in whomever drank it. In reality it just made everyone silly and full of tears and laughter. My second-cousin Ralphie would get totally red faced and everyone would laugh at her dirty jokes and old stories for hours.

Now that I’m an adult I realize its beautiful full-color and fruit are a refresher to hot summer days and the perfect friend to bring to picnics and potlucks. I originally set out to make my friend Patrick’s “Colorado Sangria” but it truly is meant for a party, and a little too much alcohol for one weeknight. Therefore I’ll post that later this summer and focus today on a beautifully simple Sangria that is perfect for a weeknight sitting on a back porch with friends, which is just how we celebrated Cinco De Mayo this year.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Bottle of red wine, we used a Cabernet Sauvignon, but you can also use Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, or shiraz
• 2 Lemons, cut into wedges for juicing and slices for pitcher
• 2 Oranges, cut into wedges for juicing and slices for pitcher
• 1/2 cup sugar, that’s what they recommend, but I would sweeten to taste.
  We used less four 4 tablespoons.
• 1 Shot brandy (we used 1 cup this round, for a little extra kick.
  I recommend 1/2 cup)
• 2 Cups ginger ale or club soda (we actually used diet sprite!)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pour bottle of wine into pitcher over squeezed juice from fruit and brandy.

2. Stir in Sugar and add fruit slices.

3. Chill overnight, or don’t, we obviously couldn’t wait. If you’d like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice. Add diet sprite, ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

We served it with a jar of our homemade salsa we canned last year with our homegrown tomatoes. You’ll see that recipe later this summer as we begin our yearly canning for the year. It’s to die for!