Guest Blogger: Serena's Summer Sangria

Hi There! This is Serena, Shirley's sister. This drink is an all-around excellent drink for all of summer. From escaping the smoldering summer heat to the end of the season when you want to savor the very last bit of it. This sangria recipe is slightly adapted from Emeril Lagasse.

Summer Sangria
Serves 6

1 bottle (750 ml) brandy
1 bottle (2 liter) wine
5 lemons, sliced
1 pint blueberries
1/2 pint strawberries, whole
4 medium green apples, sliced
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup agave syrup, more for sweetness
Ice for serving
Sparkling water for serving

Mix lemons, blueberries, strawberries, green apples, and raisins in a large bowl. In another large bowl, add one layer of mix, drizzle 2 tablespoons of agave sugar. Repeat three more times until all the fruit and agave sugar are mixed. Pour in brandy and wine. Marinate for at least 24 hours. Serve with ice and sparking water.

Watermelon Popsicle

I can't believe it's the middle of August already. Before the summer slips by me, I want to make something summer-y. These recipes for grownup pops came at just the right time. I made the watermelon pops using honey and vanilla yogurt.

Watermelon Pops
Adapted from NPR

Watermelon Layer
8 oz watermelon (about 15 1 in. cubes)
2 tbsp vanilla yogurt
1 1/2 tbsp honey
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
18 semisweet chocolate chips

Lemon Layer
3 tbsp milk
3 tbsp water
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp honey
yellow food coloring

First strain the blended watermelon. Whisk in vanilla yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Set aside. Stir together ingredients for the lemon layer and add enough yellow food coloring to achieve desired color.

Heat up a small frying pan. Take it off the stove. Use chopsticks or tweezers to pick up one chocolate chip at a time and set it on the frying pan for 1-2 seconds to melt the bottom. Stick it on the inside of the popsicle container carefully. If melted chocolate gets on the sides of container wipe it off. Stick about 3-4 chocolate chips in each container.

Pour in the watermelon layer until about an inch from the top. Set in the freezer until the top layer has a thin layer of ice, about two hours. Pour in the lemon layer and insert the popsicle stick. Freeze until solid.

I find they are much easier to remove if they are set in a bowl of water for a couple of minutes before serving. Enjoy on a hot summer day!