My Perfect (Unsweet, Unboozy) Sangria

At last, perfect for summer parties, a big pitcher of dry sangria that's fruity and refreshing, not cloyingly sweet and dizzyingly boozy. For anyone who's ever been turned off by sangria, this recipe will be a revelation.

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This recipe is so quick and easy
that I'm adding it to a special collection of easy summer recipes
published every summer since 2009.
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COMPLIMENTS!

• "Everyone (including myself) loved it and it was gone in no time ..." ~ Dawn

BEST RECIPES!

• My Perfect Sangria Made the List!
• Best Recipes of 2009

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Sangria: Idea vs Reality

In my life, the idea of sangria has always outsold the reality. I idealized a tall glass of Spanish wine served cold and spicy on a steamy summer’s day. The sorry reality: a cloyingly sweet wine punch with so much alcohol that a glassful dropped me into a doozey of a dozey daze. Instead, I wanted a summer sangria to sip, one that deserved and allowed a second cup.

So in a moment of inspiration, this perfect sangria was born. It added to a happy party one warm summer night; was appointed the drink of choice for the ‘family kitchen staff’ at a large party the next; and I sipped on the dregs for the rest of the week.

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Finally, the idea and the reality of sangria become one.

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SUMMER EASY: MY PERFECT SANGRIA

Hands-on time: 15 minutes
Time to table: 2 hours
Makes 5 cups

• 1 apple
• 1 orange
• 1 lemon
• 1 lime
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 tablespoons agave or honey, optional (see TIPS)

• 1 bottle red wine, preferably Spanish (see TIPS)
• 1 12-ounce can diet fruity soda (see TIPS)
• Ice (see TIPS)

Core the apple, then slice it into thin rings. Slice the tips off the orange, lemon and lime, then cut into rounds. Drop << half >> the fruit into a pitcher, add the cinnamon stick, cloves and agave (see TIPS).

Put the remaining fruit into a separate large bowl and "muddle" (that is, smash) with the back of a wooden spoon to release the juices and oils. Place a colander over the pitcher, add the muddled fruit to drain the juice into the pitcher. Pour the wine and soda over the fruit through the colander into the pitcher.

To allow the flavors to meld, refrigerate for an hour or so. Just before serving, add a big block of ice to the pitcher, otherwise, serve in glasses over ice.

ALANNA's TIPS Cloves? Yes, cloves! The spice adds depth and dimension to the wine and the fruit both. Feel free to play with the fruit, grapes, peaches, plums would all be great. Do include some citrus, it adds a needed sharpness. Choose an inexpensive Spanish wine such as a rioja or a Grenache. We find great choices at Trader Joe’s for about $7 a bottle. Trader Joe’s also carries great sugar-free diet sodas from Hansen’s with delicious fruity flavors, Mandarine Lime and Ginger Ale. They’re perfect for sangria. If the wine is quite fruity, no agave or honey may be needed at all. Taste before adding! If you have time, freeze a big block or two of ice ahead of time, just be sure it can be dropped into the pitcher. A big block melts more slowly, preventing the sangria from getting watered down. We like to freeze red grapes to use as ice cubes in the glasses.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Without Agave Per Cup: 125 Calories; 0g Tot Fat; 0g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 6mg Sodium; 5g Carb; 0g Fiber; 2g Sugar; 0g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS Old Points 3 & PointsPlus 1 & SmartPoints 4 & Freestyle 4
With Agave Per Cup: 176 Calories; 0g Tot Fat; 0g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 6mg Sodium; 19g Carb; 0g Fiber; 16g Sugar; 0g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS Old Points 4 & PointsPlus 2 & SmartPoints 7 & Freestyle 7 This recipe has been "Alanna-sized" with reductions in sugar and alcohol and increases in no-calorie flavors.

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A Menu: Sangria on the Patio

My Perfect Sangria
Tuna & White Bean Dip
atop
Herbed Saltines

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Pour a Tall, Cold Glass of Summer

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~ more drink recipes ~
~ more appetizer recipes ~

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Shop Your Pantry First

(helping home cooks save money on groceries)

~ apples ~
~ lemons ~
~ limes ~


~ All Recipes, By Ingredient ~
~ How to Save Money on Groceries ~

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

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