Spiced Fall Sangria

Let it be known that it’s November 27th and I’m still wearing sandals when I go outside.  Yes, I get weird looks.  No, I do not care.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – flip flops ’till it snows.  Quite frankly, I could easily go without the white stuff.  This girl does not need a white Christmas.  A brown Christmas works just fine for me.  Christmas on a tropical beach would be even better.  Sadly, neither scenario will play out as I so desperately want it to.  The Weather Network has snow in the forecast for this week, so I best be fishin’ out my winter boots and digging deep into the liquor cabinet.

Drinking booze in winter to keep warm is totally a thing – at least according to Mama Kancz (my friend Edith’s mom).  The topic arose ever so innocently.  She had just served me my first ever mug of mulled wine.  It was sweet and spicy and took away any chill I had in my body – how was this the first time I’m trying this?!  Mama K was just as shocked as I was.  She used to drink this all the time back in Hungary.  She so eloquently reminded me that “there isn’t much to do in the dead of winter and drinking keeps you warm”.

I can think of one other thing that both occupies time and keeps you warm…

But I digress.

While I do love mulled wine, I prefer cold drinks – even in winter.  I have moccasins, fleece lined leggings and a heated blanket, so I don’t really need warm booze, although if it’s offered to me, I won’t turn it down.

I took Mama Kancz’s mulled wine concept and turned it into a spiced sangria.  Instead of heating the wine with spices, I chilled it with apples, pears, oranges and a touch of homemade spiced syrup.  I added a splash or two of Cointreau for good measure.  Mix everything together and let it sit overnight – the longer the better. The fruit will sweeten the wine and the warm spiciness will be elevated.

It’s basically the holidays in a glass.  It’s also what’s gonna get me through the cold, dank winter.  Cheers!