Sangria

Celebrate!!! 🎉 That's what we do in the Spring.  We celebrate EIGHT family birthdays between March and May.  Not to mention St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day and Easter.  Hardly a week goes by, that we aren't exchanging gifts, cutting into a cake and toasting another trip around the sun. 🍾 Not gonna lie - I really love all the Spring parties and festivities.  Organizing desserts for all of these parties is my forte but keeping myself organized so that everyone receives their gifts on time - now that's another story.  💁🏻‍♀️

​In my world - it's not a party without a proper dessert to commemorate the event.  It doesn't have to be a traditional three layer cake with buttercream roses and candles to be an official birthday cake.  We celebrate birthdays with apple pie, a pile of donuts and strawberry shortcake.  After all, when you celebrate that many special occasions in 92 days, you've got to mix it up a little.  

This year, since we're all spending our Spring in quarantine and not gathering with families, we've had to get more creative about celebrating birthday's from afar.  Raising a glass to toast a birthday while practicing social distancing is the new norm. 🍷

​Sangria has become my new go-to cocktail for birthday celebrations either alone or with a friends.  (Less than 10, of course.)  After all, it combines three of my favorite things: red wine, fresh fruit and sugar!!!  What's not to love?

Sangria
2 cups burgundy wine
1 cup brandy
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups club soda
1 lime sliced
1 lemon sliced
​1 orange

Combine wine, brandy, lime juice, lemon juice and sugar.  

Add orange, lemon and lime slices.

Add club soda, just before serving. 

Serve over glass of ice. 

My dad provided the wine for this batch of Sangria.  It is the perfect compliment to the brandy and fruit.  I've learned to make double batches of this thirst quenching libation because everyone LOVES it.  Including me.  

​Ciao!

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