Dessert or Snack, Recipes
Posted by Kylie Mitchell //
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The first time I saw a pitcher of sangria I was 12 years old. I thought it was the most beautiful pitcher of raspberry lemonade I had ever seen. I remember trying to pour myself a glass and someone saying I wasn’t allowed to have any because there was alcohol in it. Ugh. WHAT?! How are you gonna show me the most wonderfully refreshing drink I have ever seen and then tell me I can’t have any?!
I think I may have cried.
At the time, my 12-year-old self probably acted out irrationally and I might have said something along the lines of, “what happened to the whole treat others whole you want to be treated?” You can’t bring the most delicious-ice-cold-refreshing-fruit-stuffed juice to a party and then tell me I can’t have any.
What happened next is kinda fuzzy but I’m sure I threw a tantrum. Almost as bad as the tantrum I remember throwing when my mom made me wear this horrendous watermelon patterned outfit one Easter. Trust me, that tantrum was well-merited…it was a hideous outfit.
So one of the very best things about being all grown up is getting to drink a glassful of the most beautiful “raspberry lemonade” you have ever seen. This recipe takes fresh berries and orange juice and adds in some wine and mint and there-ya-go…delicious 3 Berry Red Wine Sangria!
If you’re really feeling ambitious you could go pick your own berries since that’s a very popular activity this time of year. However, I feel it only right to warn you that the hottest I have ever been was when I went berry picking with my mom and sisters when I was little. I remember thinking there was no way I was going to survive the 3287932 degree Texas summer heat. Totally not an exaggeration. I for serious think it was that hot. So I find it surprising that I even like berries still 1)because it was hella hot that day and 2)because have you seen a blackberry bush? They’re frightening.
But the thing about berries is they’re just so refreshing. So those frightening 2-inch-long-thorn-covered-blackberry bushes are totally worth facing. But you know what’s even better than blackberries? Raspberries. Mainly because they don’t grow on scary bushes.
Growing up I spent a summer with my best friend in Utah and we would eat fresh raspberries by the handful. You see these are happy berry picking memories because Utah weather, unlike Texas weather, doesn’t reach 3287932 degrees. Moral of the story: If you’re going to pick berries in Texas, you must go before the sun comes up…or you will in fact melt.
If you’re confused as to why I’m posting on a Tuesday instead of a Monday or Friday, this post is part of a recipe challenge called Recipe Redux. Each month, Recipe Redux contributors are given a food/theme that we are to create a healthier version of. Recipe Redux founders believe that healthier foods should still taste delicious…which is something I’m all about. There has been some incredible recipes that recipe redux contributors have thought of.
And even though there are some recipe modifications that freak me out and will likely always freak me out (like putting beans in my brownies or cookies), there are so many great ways to make recipes healthier and this a great way to share them. Maybe one day I’ll face my fears and try out some black bean brownies or garbanzo bean cookie dough, but for now both of those recipes sound almost as frightening as the thorns on blackberry bushes. Almost.
This week’s Recipe Redux theme was Brunch. And nothing quite says brunch like cute, little glasses stuffed with berries that have been soaked with fresh squeezed orange juice and red wine.
3 Berry Red Wine Sangria
makes 1 pitcher
1 bottle red wine, chilled
1 cup pomegranate juice, chilled
1 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed
8 ounces strawberries
1/2 pint raspberries
1/2 pint blackberries
2 Tbsp honey
1 cup club soda, chilled
3/4 cup red seedless grapes, frozen
Garnish: mint leaves, orange slices, strawberries
Combine red wine, pomegranate juice, fresh orange juice, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and honey in a large pitcher. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for 2 hours. Just before serving, add club soda and frozen grapes into the pitcher. Serve in glasses garnished with mint leaves, orange slices and strawberry slices.
As the first and only recipe challenge founded by registered dietitians, The Recipe ReDux aims to inspire the food lover in every healthy eater and inspire the healthy eater in every food lover. Thank you for visiting. We hope you enjoy!
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Posted under Dessert or Snack, Recipes
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