Celebrating with Strawberry Sangria

Two of M's high school friends are getting married this weekend (to each other), and I feel like starting the celebration early. What a better way to spend an evening than dancing away because two people are in love? It's a contagious, pervasive feeling, and I thought it was worth sharing with you, too.

This strawberry sangria is the perfect way to get the party started. It's the color of love, with abundant, ripe strawberries mulling in a sweet bath of deep red wine and liqueur. I hope it jump starts your weekend celebration, whether you're celebrating love or simply life itself!

Strawberry Sangria
Ingredients:
1 bottle red wine
1 cup lemonade
3 T. triple sec
2 T. brandy
2 T. powdered sugar
1 cup sliced ripe strawberries

Directions: Combine all of the above ingredients in a large jug or bowl. Stir well to incorporate sugar and refrigerate overnight so that the strawberries can infuse flavor. The longer it sits, the better it tastes! Then serve.

Sailing Toward Friday: Mai Tai Me

It's Wednesday. This I know.

Mai Tai's on a Wednesday!? Sure, why not. Posting this refreshing and sweet drink takes me straight to the weekend. I hope this little bit of hope in a glass has the same effect for you.

Mai Tai Me: Makes one serving. shake all the ingredients together and garnish with fresh fruit

Ice cubes

1/2 cup pineapple juice

1 jigger (3 t.) dark rum

1 jigger (3 t.) orange liqueur

2 t. grenadine syrup (can omit if preferred)

Dash of lime juice and a dash of sugar

Mango Pear Sangria

It's Friday afternoon at 5:00, and I'm walking home from work in the 90 degree heat. Although it's not unusual for this craving to hit me once the warm weather arrives, my mind begins to envision juicy pieces of fruit and a glass pitcher. I begin to walk a little faster: I need to get home and make some sangria!

I mix together the ingredients as quickly as I can and stir it well with a long, wooden spoon. Then, back in the frige it goes. Those flavors need to meddle together for as long as they possibly can before we're ready for a glass. The mango and pear soak up the brandy and liqueur, the wine fuses with the sugar and fruit juices... All becomes right in the world.

There are many reasons to celebrate life on this perfectly cloudless, sunny Friday. The evening immediately turns into the weekend when M comes home and I pour us each a cold glass of this perfectly fruity, sweet, and lightly tangy white Sangria.

Mango Pear White Sangria:
1 750ml bottle of sparkling or regular white wine, chilled
1/2 cup brandy or cognac
1/4 cup orange liqueur
2 t. superfine or powdered sugar
1/2 cup orange mango juice (or regular orange)
1 can pears in light juice, pears removed and cut into 1" chunks, juice reserved
1 cup frozen or fresh mango, cut into 1" chunks

Stir together wine, brandy, orange liqueur and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Add orange mango juice, pear juice, and stir again. Add fruit and chill for a minimum of hour, or overnight for the best flavor.

This recipe is also great with canned peaches, sliced white grapes, and sliced unpeeled oranges and lemons.