Invited to a summer gathering last minute?

Today my dear son and I were invited to a friend's block party. "Bring a dish or a drink to share!" she says. Being invited at the last minute what is a girl to do? ... or eh... bring? With no time to run to the store I look in the fridge and make a mental tally of what is in there.

But of course .... what is a girl to do but make Sangria! Who doesn't have an some fruit rolling around in their frig and a bottle of red wine in the house? This is the perfect thing to bring to a block party or picnic! While it is always better to let it sit overnight and "meld" (is that a word?), you can also throw it together at the last minute letting it sit an hour or so. The secret to quick Sangria is to squeeze the fruit to help it along in the process. Below is my yummy Sangria recipe.

Citrus Sangria
Makes 6 glasses

Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups (26 fl. oz) dry red wine ( I will make this easy for you = 1 bottle)
1/2 cup (4 fl. oz) Cointreau (or triple sec taste great too and cost less)
1/2 cup (4 fl. oz) brandy
1/2 cup of sugar
Orangina sparkling orange juice to taste ( for sweeter/fruiter sangria add 1 cup of OJ and club soda instead)
1 med to large orange, sliced thin crosswise
1 lemon, sliced thin crosswise
1 lime, sliced thin crosswise
1 green apple cubed


Preparation:
Mix the wine, liquor, fruit and sugar in a large pitcher. Refrigerate overnight. If you are short on time and only have an hour so to let it marinate slightly squeeze the slices as you add them to the pitcher. Immediately, before serving, add in the Orangina. Serve over Ice. The colder the better! Be sure to add the fruit to each glass as you serve it.





The thing about Sangria is there is no real rule. You can change things up as you like. Some people like to add white rum, spiced rum or even gin - omitting the brand & Cointreau for a less sweet Sangria. You can also use plain club soda if you like it really dry. You can add strawberries, grapes, peaches OR any type of berries. Be creative! I would love to hear about your favorite Sangria recipe if you have one! It always has a "wow" factor when served in a glass pitcher. If you do not have one just mix it up in a plastic pitcher or old juice jar. Then serve it in a wine glass! The presentation in the wine glass is enough to impress!

**UPDATE** back from the block party - another mom invited on short notice made Mojitos - danggggggg why didn't I think of that!????? How easy can you get rum, mint, sugar and ice!