Sangria!

Nothing says summer like a big pitcher of sangria!!  Okay ... well maybe strawberries ... fresh corn on the cob ... cookouts ... ripe, juicy peaches ... days at the pool ...

Well, hey ... Sangria is right up there in my book.

It's pretty much a go-to beverage for me when having summertime get-togethers.  It's so simple to whip up, and let's face it ... it's just plain fun to drink.

Another thing I love about sangria is its versatility.  You can change it up pretty much any-which-way to suit your own personal taste.  Red?  Yup, that's a classic.  Rose?  Sure.  White?  Oh, yes indeed! - like my White Sangria with Nectarines, Plums, & Lemons. 

Personally, I haven't yet met a sangria I didn't like.

In addition to giving the recipe for this post's specific sangria (see the bottom of the post), I thought I'd share the 'sangria basics' so you all can experiment.  So, here goes...

'Sangria Basics'
- Choose a 750 ml ('regular size') bottle of wine; typically a dry wine, though I have made a sparkling sangria with a Moscato (semi-sweet) before and it was good
- Pour the wine in a pitcher and add about 2 tablespoons of sugar and about a 1/4 cup of liquor, typically brandy for red or rose wines and rum for white wines
- Stir to dissolve the sugar
- Add sliced fruit
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and up to 1 day, before serving - note, though, that some fruits don't hold up as long as others and need to be consumed more in the 'hours' timeframe than the 'day' timeframe
- Add seltzer just before serving

That's it!  Pretty easy, huh?

Now the hardest part ... taste it, and decide if the taste balance is okay.  If you're not sure, taste it again.  Oh, perhaps you'll need a third gulp sip ... 

Sometimes I need to add a tiny bit more sugar.  Sometimes, if I've used lemons, I need to remove the lemon slices because the lemon flavor is starting to take over.  Still not sure??  Go ahead - taste again.  Whew, being a sangria chef is tough work!

Now that your tough work is done, poor a big ol' glass to reward yourself.  You deserve it.

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Sangria with Oranges, Lemons, & Apples

Source:  Adapted from Food Network Magazine, May 2011

Ingredients
1 (750 ml) bottle dry red wine
1/4 c. brandy
2 T. sugar
2 oranges, sliced
1/2 lemon, sliced
1 green apple, sliced
1 1/2 c. seltzer

Directions

1.  Combine the wine, rum, and sugar in a pitcher; stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the sliced fruit. 

2.   Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and up to 1 day. 

3.  Add the seltzer just before serving.

Enjoy!

This post is linked with Think Pink Sundays hosted by Flamingo Toes, Sundae Scoop hosted by I {heart} Nap Time, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Addicted to Recipes, Nifty Thrifty Sunday hosted by Nifty Thrifty Things, Sunday Showcase Party hosted by Under the Table and Dreaming, On the Menu Monday hosted by Stone Gable, Mangia Mondays hosted by Shine Your Light, Totally Tasty Tuesdays hosted by Mandy's Recipe Box, Tuesday Talent Show hosted by Chef In Training, Whacha Whipped Up Wednesday hosted by DJ's Sugar Shack, Cast Party Wednesday hosted by Lady Behind the Curtain, Pin'Inspirational Thursdays hosted by Jane's Adventures in Dinner, Full Plate Thursday hosted by Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Inspiration Friday hosted by At the Picket Fence, Foodie Friday hosted by Rattlebridge Farm, Foodie Friday with Diane Balch hosted by Simple Living with Diane Balch, Weekend Potluck hosted by The Country Cook, Strut Your Stuff Saturday hosted by Six Sisters' Stuff, Weekend Wrap Up hosted by Tater Tots & Jello, Gooseberry Patch Recipe Round-Up.