A Feast of Fridays: Texas Sangria!

I went to a party last night and there was a huge pitcher of Sangria on the counter with the other drinks.  Big as the pitcher was, the hostess had to keep refilling it because people crowded around and helped themselves to a glass whenever the pitcher was full.

I like Sangria myself, but I’d never seen a pitcher of it be the life of the party before, so I poured a little for myself and had a taste.

It was absolutely divine.

My hostess gave me the recipe.  It’s simple as can be – Sangria isn’t a fancy drink – but her little personal touch absolutely MADE that pitcher of Sangria. This recipe must be made fresh with each pitcher refill.  I plan to use a punch bowl when I make it for my next gathering; it holds more than a pitcher and the pepper jelly cubes will look nice floating on top.

Ingredients:

1 Bottle of red wine

Juice of one large lemon

Juice of one large orange

2 Tbsp sugar

Shot of brandy

2 Cups ginger ale or club soda

Frozen Texas Pepper Jelly ice cubes (any flavor)

Fresh berries, fruit slices

What to do:

The first thing you have to do is fill several ice cube trays with your favorite flavors of Texas Pepper Jelly and make sure you have plenty of cubes for your party.  Do this the night before or that morning, to give your pepper jelly cubes time to freeze solid.

Mix all of the above ingredients  in a huge pitcher or punchbowl.

Add the pepper jelly ice cubes and as much fruit as you personally like.

Stand back, but be ready to refill the pitcher again and again.