Sing Song Sangria

Yesterday was the first hot day in Montreal. Girls in tank tops and sweet summer dresses, and the boys took off their shirts to soak up well needed sunshine. Bottles of sunscreen were sold for bare shoulders; so were bottles of beer for patios, bottles of wine for the park and in my case yesterday afternoon, bottles of ingredients to make a delicious pitcher of Sangria! We stumbled into the SAQ, already half cut from drinking wine after a semi-epic bike ride up the mountain, beers at a picnic with friends and then a little Iceberg on ice (with cranberry for color). We got some Triple Sec and settled for a cheap bottle of wine. I wanted it to be colorful, but remain a classic red in fruits flavor. I opted for raspberries and black berries to matcht the cheap bottle of OASIS punch.
I think that the key to delicious sangria is the liqeur and the juice ( I wish this time I had balled out a little more and got a nicer juice - but everyone has a budget... besides, there is always next time). If you are not a huge fan of brandy, getting your hands on Triple Sec or a fine fruit liqeur is necessary - even though it seems expensive, think of it as an investment in amazing summer nights drinking boozey juice and nibbling on even boozier fruit you find at the bottom of your cup.

The standard recipe (in eyeball measurements) is as follows:
In a pitcher put orange, lemon, lime slices, pear or apple, and berries like strawberries, raspberries or blackberries. Peaches or pineapple are also wonderful.
Over ice, pour brandy or Triple Sec (about 3/4 C)
Then pour about 3/4 of a bottle of wine.
If you use brandy, I suggest using juice to top it off (if you don't have juice, some sugar and a pinch of salt suffices nicely). If you use triple sec, the liquer will sweeten the sauce nicely and juice is optional.

I hope to experiment more. Next time its gonna be 'white sangria' full of citrus and light fruits!

Be Mine Valentine

Nothing says I love you like chocolate and strawberries. Although I don't have a photo of the finished product, My Valentine got a surprise of strawberry cheesecake cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries with champagne.

To make this delicious set of treats you need some time and someone deserving of the love you make it with. Strawberry cheesecake cupcakes go like this:
Preheat your oven to 350 and prep 6-8 muffin tins by lining cupcake paper with crushed graham crackers
1. In a small bowl mix together:
3/4C All purpose flour
1/2t baking powder
1/2t salt
2. In a large bowl cream:
6T butter
1/2C & 1T sugar, add 1/2t vanilla and beat.
3. Add half of your dry ingredients and 1/2C sour cream (or plain yogurt) and mix. Then add the rest of the dry ingredients.
4. In another bowl, beat 2 egg whites until stiff. Gently fold in apx 1/3 to the batter and mix well. Then add the rest of the egg whites as well as 1/4C of fresh and chopped strawberries.
5. Bake for about 20- 23 minutes.

While these cuties are baking, prepare cream cheese frosting by beating together 4-oz of cream cheese, 4T of soft butter and 1/4t of vanilla. Lower the setting and add 1C of confectioner's sugar. Then increase the speed setting and mix well until fluffy.
Decorate as you wish, but cutting half a strawberry into a heart shape is really cute!

With your remaining strawberries you can do one of two things - or both depening on how indulgent you feel. In a double broiler (or a heat proof bowl that rests safely over a pot of boiling water), melt equal parts dark semi-sweet chocolate, butter and corn syrup. Once the ingredients have melted and have a blended consistency from stirring, dip one side of a strawberry and set on a baking pan (or plate). Let cool in the fridge for one hour and then do the same for the other side of the strawberry.
Another way to use up those leftover strawberries is to chop then up let them soak in champagne that you can sip on over dessert. Strawberries can really make a cheap 'sparkling wine' a lot less tart, turning a 'cheap' wine into a sweet treat.

(Credit is due to "A Good Appetite" at http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com/2008/07/strawberry-cheesecake-cupcakes.html for the great cupcake recipe)

...and everything nice

There is so much in the day to day that is so brilliantly quirky, unique and sweet. Ever have an encounter and think: ' i wish i had a camera?' - or 'if only ______(insert someone special) was here to share this sweet moment'?

I think its about time to share all of the wonderfully sweet things that make up the day to day....