Spring Means Sangria Time!

About a year ago I was invited to a Memorial Day Barbecue that was BYOB. Not wanting to be a bad guest, but also not being much of a drinker (with the exception of wine) I decided to try my hand at sangria. That spawned a summer of tinkering with various white wine sangria creations. This was by far my favorite. I think its perfect for barbecues, along with spicy foods or just relaxing outside with friends utilizing two of my favorite spring/summer fruits: watermelons and strawberries.

Watermelon-Strawberry White Wine Sangria

Yields approximately 13 cups | Prep: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 small seedless watermelon (enough to make 4 cups of watermelon juice)
• 2 cup strawberries, diced
• 2 cups lemon-lime soda (I use Sprite, but whatever you like)
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 750ml bottle of white wine (I highly recommend Moscato, the sweeter wine you get, the less likely you'll want or need sugar)
• 1 lemon, in slices (wash well, but I keep the peel on)
• 1 lime, in slices (wash well, but I keep the peel on)
• 1 large orange, in slices cut in half (wash well, but I keep the peel on)
• Small bunch of fresh mint leaves (optional)
• Sugar or simple syrup to taste (if the fruits and wine aren't enough)

Directions:

1. Fill blender with chunks of watermelon, smaller the better. Mash watermelon with a wooden spoon until blender is filled 3/4th or enough to make 4 cups. Alternate pulsing and using the spoon to mash watermelon until the watermelon blends smoothly. Poor juice into pitcher and add mint if desired. Repeat as necessary until you have 4 cups.
2. Add orange juice and 1 cup of the strawberries to the blender. Blend until smooth and add to pitcher.
3. Add bottle of wine, soda, lemon, lime, orange and remaining strawberries. Stir and taste. Add sugar or simple syrup as desired.
4. Chill for at least 2 hours if possible. To keep sangria cold you can turn some of it into ice cubes (pour mixture into ice cube trays and use frozen cubes so when they melt the water doesn't dilute the sangria).

What to do with leftover fruit:

1. I eat the oranges after. If they're good oranges and they've soaked up all the flavor they're even yummier. If you normally like eating lemons or limes you can do the same for them.
2. Better, though:

Sangria Strawberry Syrup

(Recipe per cup of leftover strawberries)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup leftover strawberries from sangria

Directions:

1. Make a simple syrup by boil water and sugar and stirring until sugar dissolves.
2. Add strawberries and stir over medium heat until the syrup coats the back of a spoon.