Cooking Lesson #654: Sparkling Orange & Peach Sangria

The Cruising Collection

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? On a Mediterranean cruise I was impressed with the number of sangria choices available. I worked with the bartender to create this recipe for Sparkling Orange & Peach Sangria. It turns out it’s also great for casual backyard gatherings. A pitcher of sangria takes all the pressure off the host. Not to mention, this great tasting golden refresher is super pretty and deeply refreshing.
 
Wine is the heart of any sangria, and here we use a bottle of dry white wine and sparkling Prosecco, which we love for its dry winey notes, then layer in a simple syrup made with Tazo Wild Orange Tea and honey. The results are an earthy concoction that adds some sweet bottom notes to the sangria.
 
It’s lots of fun to watch your passengers/guests bobbing for peaches, red berries and apples while enjoying a thirst-quenching sip of summer.
 
Prep time:  20 minutes
Cool time:  30 minutes
Chill time:  1 to 4 hours (passive time)
Yield:  8 servings
 
Ingredients 
1/2 cup water
1 bag Tazo brand Wild Sweet Orange tea
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 thinly sliced lemon
1/2 ripe peach
1/2 navel orange (I prefer Cara Cara sweet oranges)
1/2 sweet-tart apple (I prefer Honeycrisp)
1 cup quartered strawberries
1 cup rinsed whole raspberries
1 bottle white wine (I prefer Sauvignon Blanc)
1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
8 cups ice cubes
1 bottle Prosecco (or other sparkling white wine)
8 whole strawberries
8 mint sprigs
 
Directions

1. Bring the water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
2. Remove the pot from the heat, add 1 bag Tazo® Wild Sweet Orange Tea, and steep for 7 minutes.
3. Discard the tea bag and stir in the honey until dissolved.
4. Let it cool, for about 30 minutes.
5. Rinse the lemon, peach, orange, apple and strawberries.
6. In another container, rinse 1 cup of raspberries and leave whole.
7. In a large pitcher, combine the wine, honey-tea syrup, lemon juice and the prepared fruit.
8. Chill the sangria in the refrigerator for 1 hour and up to 4 hours to let the flavors blossom.
9. When ready to serve, add the ice and Prosecco and stir to combine. Serve the sangria in wine glasses and garnish with whole strawberries and mint sprigs.

ChefSecret:  Most any fruit can be a wonderful substitute—kiwi, pineapple, blue berries, nectarines or pears.

Quip of the Day:  While sipping his sangria, he noticed a sizzling, scrumptious looking platter being served at the next table. Not only did it look good, the smell was wonderful. He asked the waiter, "What is that you just served?" The waiter replied, " Ah señor, you have excellent taste! Those are bull’s testicles from the bull fight this morning. A delicacy!"

The tourist, though momentarily daunted, said, "What the hell, I'm on vacation! Bring me an order!" The waiter replied, "I am so sorry señor. There is only one serving per day because there is only one bull fight each morning. If you come early tomorrow and place your order, we will be sure to save you this delicacy!"

The next morning, the tourist returned, placed his order, and then that evening he was served the one and only special delicacy of the day. After a few bites, and inspecting the contents of his platter, he called to the waiter and said, "These are delicious, but they are much, much smaller than the ones I saw you serve yesterday!"

The waiter shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Si señor. Sometimes the bull wins."
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour #SparklingOrange&PeachSangria #Prosecco #SauvignonBlanc #Oranges #Peaches #Apples #Lemons #Strawberries #Raspberries #Cheers #2023 #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                                                                       ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2023

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