Sangria Blanca! Viva Espana!

[Blog silence.] Sorry about that. I just didn't have the words for blogging this past week and even though I was still cooking, eating, and drinking, I just didn't have much to say about it all. That situation did change after just a couple of hours with my in-laws watching The World Cup. OMG! These people take their soccer (er, um football) seriously. Personally, I could not care any less about it. Half of my in-laws favored Spain and the other half Holland. My thoughts drifted back to the great dinner party I threw for them the night before. Wishing it was just a bit warmer than it was I had made a Sangria Blanca mimicking the versions I had just seen served all over nightspots in NYC last month. I personally didn't drink any. Oh no. I need the stronger stuff for true refreshment. I just made note of the colorful glasses being walked around the cool rooftop bars we enjoyed. Someday, I thought, I'll make that.

Perhaps it was my not-quite-subconscious desire for warmer evenings that compelled me to make it for my visiting relatives? Unseasonably cool weather had me dreaming of the nearly unbearable heat we enjoyed just a week or so prior back East. Perhaps I was subconsciously endorsing Spain by offering up a traditional Spanish summer drink? (Did you know Sangria actually means 'bloodletting'? Why does that make we want to drink more?)

If I am to be truthful with you, and I strive to be, I really didn't care who won. I don't even know what "offsides" means. Both countries in the finals allow for marriage equality after all and that is the traditional barometer of whom I root for in world league events. No, I had another theme in mind. One I couldn't exactly share with my guests. You see, all my menu choices were made in order to further my goal of cleaning out my refrigerator and freezer before my vacation ended.

True story. So for the next few food entries here, each is made with something I needed to get rid of. Sangria Blanca was quite refreshing and fashionable, but it also allowed me to get rid of that bottle of white wine that I had no idea what it was except that it was Spanish. Good wine and bad wine tastes pretty good when you doctor it up like this. Give it a try!


Sangria Blanca

• 1 bottle Spanish white white. Stick to a non oaky white or fruity chardonnay.
• 1 dozen Rainer cherries
• 1 large or 2 small peaches, sectioned with skins on
• 1 T orange liqueur (or any clear fruit liqueur or brandy)
• 1 T simple syrup
• soda water

Mix first five ingredients in a pitcher and chill in refrigerator for up to 4 hours. To serve, pour into chilled glass or over ice. Garnish with a few pieces of the macerated fruit. Top with soda water or to taste.