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Sunday Afternoon Sangria

January 7, 2013 By Lena

You know how the Bible says, Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged? Ahem, yesterday, I learned that I should never judge teenagers who attend high school dances, get drunk, and then claim they had no idea the punch was spiked.

Let me rewind. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a good friend’s baby shower. There’s just something about a round, perfectly beautiful baby bump that makes me incredibly happy I’m not pregnant.

(Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled for the pregnant ladies! I’d just rather eat the contents of a garbage truck than have another kid myself. #nothanks)

Anyhoo, as I reconnected with old friends and chatted about this and that, we helped ourselves to a glass of punch. Curiously, the punch had a slightly acidic quality that we just couldn’t pinpoint, but nonetheless helped ourselves to another glass. And another.

“What kind of punch is this?” I asked my friend Miss V.
“No clue, it’s pretty good, though,” she responded.
“It sort of tastes like prune juice and ginger ale, but it’s quite delish,” I countered.

By the third glass, mid-sentence, suddenly a light went off. Holy Sh*t, I’m buzzed. And then it dawned on me – we were drinking sangria! Fellow shower attendee Miss A pointed out that only a lush wouldn’t be able to detect wine in a beverage. (Ahem – she couldn’t either; after drinking her first glass, she okay’ed the beverage for consumption by children! Oops.)

And so I spent the rest of the shower with a grin on my face and concentrated on not dropping my fork. (In a smart move, we all switched to bottled water in a hurry.) Hence, while I used to scoff at teen flicks where the main characters got toasted at the high school dance, I now realize that even the most responsible of party goers can be fooled by a spiked punch bowl. Lest ye be judged, indeed.

To honour my pregnant friend and her delicious Sunday Afternoon Sangria, I’d like to share one of the LCBO’s most popular recipes – a delicious wine punch that is best enjoyed with friends. Salud!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup brandy
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
1/3 cup orange juice
1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry red wine
1/2 cup triple sec
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lime, sliced into rounds
1/4 cup white sugar
1 cup pitted Bing cherries
1 cup diced green apple
2 cups club soda (optional)

DIRECTIONS

In a large pitcher or bowl, mix together brandy, lemon juice, lemonade concentrate, orange juice, red wine, triple sec, and sugar. Float slices of lemon, orange and lime in the mixture. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor. Just before serving, add cherries and green apple. For a fizzy sangria, also add club soda.

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: recipe, sangria, wine punch

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carlee

    January 7, 2013 at 11:10 am

    Perfectly timed, we’re celebrating my sister’s bridal shower in two weeks! I will use this recipe, and let the guests know that the punch is spiked!

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:00 am

      Thanks Carlee, that’s awesome! Enjoy the shower and congratulations to your sister!

  2. courtney b

    January 7, 2013 at 11:12 am

    mm cant wait till i can drink a sangria again!!! hate being so preggers!

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:01 am

      Hahaha it’s the one thing I really missed – wine, and sangria, of course. You’ll have to make up for it when the baby is here!

  3. Mandy

    January 7, 2013 at 11:26 am

    Mmm sounds delish! Too bad I’m preggo..will have to wait until next year once I can pump my breast milk to try it out! :)

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:02 am

      Congratulations Mandy!

  4. Kristina

    January 7, 2013 at 12:13 pm

    Sounds so yummy!

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:04 am

      It is! Love adding fresh fruit to sangria – it adds such a nice tart/sweet complement to the wine!

  5. Lisa H

    January 7, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    You had me @ “Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled for the pregnant ladies! I’d just rather eat the contents of a garbage truck than have another kid myself.” LOL! soooo true Lena :D

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:04 am

      Haha I’m glad you agree Lisa!!

  6. Huguette E.

    January 7, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    Hmm, sounds great, will have to try some day :)

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:04 am

      You absolutely should, Huguette, you will love it!

  7. Teresa M

    January 7, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    What a fun post Lena! I always laugh when I read what you have written. I love your humour! A very funny tale that has to be shared!

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:05 am

      Thank you Teresa :) Just another Sunday afternoon, LOL!

  8. Lee Pearson

    January 7, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    What an amusing story!! Sounds like you had a blast. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a baby shower where they served alcohol…I’d like it if they did!

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:06 am

      Right? Best baby shower ever, hahaha! I suppose that’s why I didn’t cotton on to it right away; I wasn’t expecting it to have alcohol because it was a baby shower. Still, it has my vote!

    • Teresa M

      January 18, 2013 at 12:56 pm

      I don’t think I have either…it is usually tea or coffee…but I like the sound of this one so much better!!

  9. Laura B

    January 7, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    What a story! The recipe sounds delish, but since I’m allergic to apples and cherries, I will have to pass. I wonder if there are substitutes?

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:07 am

      Of course! You can substitute by doing a berry sangria (strawberries, blueberries and raspberries) or a peach sangria (perfect in the summer!). Enjoy!

  10. Nicole W.

    January 8, 2013 at 12:03 am

    Spend a month in Spain, and have loved Sangria ever since! Thanks for the recipe, my husband and I will have to try it soon! Love the cherries in it!

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 6:08 am

      Me too, cherries are my favourite fruit :) Super jealous that you spent a month in Spain – sounds wonderful!

  11. Marissa

    January 8, 2013 at 6:40 am

    Your recipe sounds delish Lena – thanks for sharing.

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 2:31 pm

      You’re welcome Marissa! I hope you try it out!

  12. Tania Smith

    January 8, 2013 at 9:39 am

    LOL sorry. I keep envisioning all these women sitting around smashed and trying to appear not smashed.

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 2:32 pm

      LOL! Well it wasn’t exactly like that – but only because I think the three of us finished the punch on our own :)

  13. Angie S

    January 8, 2013 at 10:54 am

    ooh sounds tasty

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 2:32 pm

      It is! Try it – you’ll love it.

  14. Debbie Bashford

    January 8, 2013 at 11:03 am

    I like drinks that don’t taste like alcohol, I have never had a Sangria, I think I may have to try one.

    • Lena

      January 8, 2013 at 2:33 pm

      This is the perfect drink for you Debbie! Heck, I didn’t even know I was drinking alcohol :)

  15. francine

    January 9, 2013 at 10:53 am

    believe it or not i haven t had a drink in 5 years. my oldest will be 4 in April and i stopped drinking before we started trying for him. now I’m nursing my 7 month old (and i don’t want to pump)… to be honest i haven’t missed it. but i do have mocktales once in a while lol.

    • Lena

      January 9, 2013 at 11:41 am

      I gave up alcohol for about 3 years too because like you said, sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle, especially when you’re breastfeeding. But I did miss my wine!

  16. @ParentClub

    January 9, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Sangria goes to my head very fast as well. Yummy though. Unfortunate the host didn’t put up a “this has booze” sign in front of the drink bar – you never know who is secretly preggers (or a quick drunk like me).

    • Lena

      January 13, 2013 at 5:57 pm

      Oooh… secretly preggos… forgot about those gals!

  17. Miss A

    January 11, 2013 at 11:36 am

    It totally doesn’t count if you can’t taste it!! ;)

    • Lena

      January 13, 2013 at 5:57 pm

      Touché!!!

  18. Catherine Burnett

    January 14, 2013 at 9:43 am

    I tried yesterday…can you say yum, yum! with a grin like chocolate suckle
    that is smooth sangria down the throat

    • Lena

      January 20, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      Hahaha love it! So happy you enjoyed it Catherine!

  19. Jenny

    January 16, 2013 at 12:49 am

    sounds yummy! this is the perfect getaway drink from the snow here!

    • Lena

      January 20, 2013 at 12:10 pm

      Yup, makes you feel like you’re in Spain!

  20. Sophia

    January 16, 2013 at 2:29 am

    Oh Sangria, how I wish summer is here and I’m sitting on a patio enjoying you right now! :)

    • Lena

      January 20, 2013 at 12:10 pm

      I second that! Until then, we can dream :)

  21. Tanya Dove

    January 19, 2013 at 11:32 am

    Mmmm I have not had sangria in ages, I may have to try this.

    • Lena

      January 20, 2013 at 12:10 pm

      Please do – you’ll love it Tanya!

  22. jenn

    January 19, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    Mmmm thanx for the recipe cant wait to try it!!

    • Lena

      January 20, 2013 at 12:10 pm

      You’re welcome – enjoy Jenn!

  23. Lindsay

    January 19, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    Oh, this sounds yummy! I’m going to have to try it out.

    • Lena

      January 20, 2013 at 12:11 pm

      Let me know what you think if you do, Lindsay!

  24. InezbyDesign

    January 23, 2013 at 11:17 am

    The first time I tried Sangria, my daughter made it for a summer bbq. We used a local Honey Mead, called Bodacious Black Current, and the only fruit she added was citrus. Wow, was it good. I started to look up recipes and there are as many as there are kinds of fruit!

    • Lena

      January 27, 2013 at 8:45 am

      You’re right Inez, there are tons of recipes for sangria. The good news? Most of them are delish!!

  25. TW

    February 10, 2013 at 7:24 am

    I really need to try this receipe this summer! Looks great!

    • Lena

      February 10, 2013 at 6:31 pm

      Bookmark it please!

  26. Anne Taylor

    March 15, 2013 at 11:44 am

    This made me laugh out loud!

    thanks for the recipe!

  27. Debbie White Beattie

    April 24, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    I don’t really drink Sangria but after reading the ingredients I’m thinking I need to give it a shot.

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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