Those of you with small kids won’t be surprised to find out that it’s been over a year since I’ve had a girls night out. I think maybe I went out once when I was expecting the girl and I nearly fell asleep at the table while my friends chatted away while sipping on delicious looking cocktails. It was sad and depressing to me at the time even though I was over the moon with happiness at being pregnant. Depressed and elated at the same time. Pregnancy hormones rock, don’t they?
This week was the first time since the girl was born eight months ago that I actually left the house by myself after 5pm. Woo-hoo! I had a fantastic girls night out at an event downtown with my sister and my BFF and afterward we hit up this hip little mid-town tavern for drinks and dinner on the patio. It was fab. The food was great and the conversation had that easy, funny flow that makes you belly laugh and remember why relationships with the women in your life are so important. Without getting too ‘chicken soup for the soul‘ on you, spending a few unrushed hours with women you love is truly revitalizing.
Or maybe it was just the SANGRIA’s. This particular tavern made them with agave nectar which is definitely something I’ll try next time I make these at home. Which will be SOON.
I’d forgotten how much I love Sangrias. It’s the perfect warm weather drink.
Here’s how I used to make them back in the day:
Ingredients:
1 inexpensive bottle of red wine
1/4 cup triple sec
1/4 cup sugar (or agave nectar)
Orange juice
Tons of cherries, chopped orange segments
Add any other fruit you have …limes are great and I even chopped up apples one time. Apples can be ridiculously good when soaked in wine for an hour.
Directions:
Chop all fruit place in a bowl and pour sugar (or agave nectar) and triple sec over the fruit. If you think to make this ahead of time let this mixture sit for a while. But I usually want to drink it as soon as I make it so whatever!
Place this mixture in the bottom of pretty pitcher..pour cheap wine on top.
Serve over ice in red wine glasses.
You really can’t mess up a Sangria. Really. I’ve made them with pineapple juice in a pinch. As long as you have fruit and cheap wine you’ve got Sangria. I’ve even made a white trash Crystal Light Sangria that turned out pretty decent. I think instead of calling it a white trash version I’ll call it a Real Mom Sangria and share that recipe on another day.
I’ll start working on that recipe in the test kitchen this weekend.
