Sangria, like most things, can either be really bad or really good. This peachy-flavored recipe for White Sangria is definitely in the really good category! It’s delicious, refreshing and super easy to make.

I chose a bottle of Red Cliffe Sauvignon Blanc (under $10 at Trader Joe’s), and used triple sec for the orange liqueur. Instead of peach nectar, I used Trader Joe’s Dixie Peach juice because that’s what I had on hand. I loved the blend of flavors and didn’t want to dilute it too much so I only added a little club soda. Start with a 1/2 cup or so and add more to get the flavor you enjoy. A combination of sliced nectarines, peaches and apples added to the flavor and presentation (next time I’ll also add in sliced plums for extra color).

Invite some friends over, set out a few appetizers and you’re set for a great summer evening! Enjoy!

White Sangria
-recipe from Williams-Sonoma.com (adapted from Williams-Sonoma Entertaining: Outdoor, by George Dolese)

Use whatever stone fruits look freshest at your market to create this refreshing sangria. Its the perfect cooler for a hot summer day. Serves 6 to 8.

6 peaches, plums or nectarines, or your favorite combination of stone fruits, halved, pitted and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 1/2 cups peach nectar
1/4 cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
1 bottle (750ml) dry Spanish white wine (white Rioja) or Sauvignon Blanc
2 cups club soda, or more, to taste
Ice cubes for serving

In a large pitcher, combine the fruit, peach nectar, orange liqueur and wine. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours.

Stir in the club soda and ladle the sangria into ice-filled glasses. Serve immediately.

Tags: Beverages, club soda, cocktail, nectarine, orange liqueur, peach, peach nectar, sangria, sauvignon blanc, triple sec, white sangria, wine

Husband loves meat, especially meat mixed with wine. It must be some kind of man thing. Anyway, for Husband’s birthday recently I wanted to make him a hearty meal that I know he would love. I decided on Beef Bourguignon (pronounced boor-gee-nyawn). Basically, it’s just beef stew cooked with a boat load of red wine. Meaty, satisfying, and delicious! The only thing I did differently with the recipe was to add some quartered red potatoes while the stew cooked instead of making the grilled bread with garlic. I did serve the stew with bread…just not on top of it. It’s also great served over mashed potatoes. I don’t think igniting the Cognac is necessary; it’s not worth the risk of singeing your eyebrows. Just add the Cognac and let it be. The recipe was a little time consuming (searing, simmering, cooking in the oven, etc.) but it was well worth it because Husband loved his Birthday Beef Bourguignon. It’s also a great entertaining dish because it can all be done a day or two ahead of time then reheated. 

Beef Bourguignon
-recipe by Ina Garten at foodnetwork.com
Serves: 6 servings

1 tablespoon good olive oil
8 ounces dry cured center cut applewood smoked bacon, diced
2 1/2 pounds chuck beef cut into 1-inch cubes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound carrots, sliced diagonally into 1-inch chunks
2 yellow onions, sliced
2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)
1/2 cup Cognac
1 (750 ml.) bottle good dry red wine such as Cote du Rhone or Pinot Noir
1 can (2 cups) beef broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pound frozen whole onions
1 pound fresh mushrooms stems discarded, caps thickly sliced

For serving:
Country bread or Sour Dough, toasted or grilled and rubbed with garlic clove
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, optional
 
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.

Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside.

Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac, stand back, and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork.

Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Saute the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.

To serve, toast the bread in the toaster or oven. Rub each slice on 1 side with a cut clove of garlic. For each serving, spoon the stew over a slice of bread and sprinkle with parsley.

Tags: Beef, French, stew, wine