Ice cold pitchers of refreshing sangria tease me as I attempt to photograph them outdoors in 100-degree temperature. I know that the sooner I get the photos taken, the sooner I’ll be able to sit down under the shade of a big blue umbrella and leisurely drink my photo props. Two fruity sangrias await me. The first one combines the crisp flavors of mint and cucumber with the sweetness of honeydew melon and the tartness of lime. White wine and carbonated water add the needed sophistication and sparkle to this beverage. The second sangria is all about fruit. Pineapple and orange juices are mixed with pineapple chunks, orange slices, and slices of crispy green apple. The addition of cream soda brings fizzy fun to this nonalcoholic sangria which makes it a perfect summertime beverage to cool down the kids.
Cucumber Sangria
Better Homes and Gardens
INGREDIENTS
1 small honeydew melon
1 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
12 fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup honey
1 750 milliliter bottle of Sauvignon blanc or other semi-dry white wine, chilled
1 1 liter bottle carbonated water, chilled
Fresh mint sprigs and/or leaves, optional for garnish
DIRECTIONS
1. Cut the melon in half; remove and discard seeds and rind. Cut melon into thin slices.
2. In a large pitcher combine melon, cucumber, lime slices, and 12 mint leaves.
3. In a small bowl stir together lime juice and honey until combined; pour over melon mixture.
4. Add wine, stirring gently. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
5. To serve, stir in carbonated water. Ladle or pour into glasses. If desired, garnish with additional mint.
LINNELL’S NOTES
1. For best results, use a honeydew melon that is ripe with sweetness, but not so ripe, that the flesh is mushy.
2. I cut the honeydew into wedge-chunks. If the melon is cut too thin, there is a chance it will fall apart when the sangria is being stirred.
3. I cut the limes into thin wedges rather than crosswise circles, so as to not repeat the shape of the cucumbers slices.
Tropical Faux-Gria
Good Housekeeping
INGREDIENTS
4 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
2 cups cream soda
2 cups pineapple chunks
1 medium orange, sliced
1/2 green apple, thinly sliced
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pitcher, mix pineapple juice, orange juice, cream soda, pineapple chunks, orange slices, and green apple slices.
2. Chill at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.
LINNELL’S NOTES
1. For ease of preparation, I used canned pineapple chunks.
2. The flavor of this beverage is reminiscent of a fruit punch.
3. Add wine to make this a real sangria for adults.
Enjoy!
