Mystery Lovers' Kitchen: How to Make a Virgin Sangria and Amuse Your Cat by author @CleoCoyle

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

How to Make a Virgin Sangria and Amuse Your Cat by author @CleoCoyle

Got overripe fruit? Waste not!
This virgin sangria is a
great way to make use of it.

Cleo Coyle writes two

bestselling mystery
series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.

🍉 A Recipe Note From Cleo Coyle

If you're feeling hot under the collar these days, you are not alone. We have at least one solution for you: a wonderfully refreshing and hydrating recipe, especially for sweltering summer days.

Why virgin? A white wine sangria is delicious, but on a workday, I prefer that my fingers hit my laptop keyboard rather than my forehead, which means no firewater until the day is done.

A virgin sangria is also a good idea for households with kids because it can be converted into an adult beverage at the time it's poured, which means one pitcher can conveniently serve drinkers and non-drinkers.

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Click here for free recipe PDF.

🍉 Cleo Coyle's

Virgin Sangria

Makes 2 quarts

Ingredients:

1 (11.5 fluid ounce) can of frozen white grape juice concentrate (We like to use Welch's 100% white grape juice, with no added sugar)

1 quart bottled or sparkling water

2 cups sliced strawberries 🍓

4 to 5 peaches 🍑 or nectarines, chopped

2 cups chopped watermelon 🍉

MIX IT: Empty concentrate into your pitcher or container and stir in the water. When the concentrate is melted into a smooth liquid, add in the fruit. Stir well, cover, and chill for several hours or overnight. The fruit will fortify the white grape juice, making it refreshingly delicious. It will also blush the color from an unappetizing dark yellow to a pretty shade of deep pink.

SERVE IT: Serve chilled in a frosty cold glass and garnish by a triangle of watermelon or small strawberry (see my photos for ideas).

🍹 SPIKE IT, IF YOU LIKE

This is a versatile drink for a household with children or one with drinkers and non-drinkers. To serve this drink as an adult beverage, simply mix half a glass of the virgin sangria with a generous splash of port, sherry, or your favorite fortified wine. Brandy, grappa, cognac, vodka, rum, and fruit liqueurs are other possible ways to spike this refreshing summer cooler. (A concentrated wine or hard alcohol will give you better results than standard wines or sparkling wines, which may taste overly diluted by the virgin sangria.)

As for Amusing Your Cat...

Photo by Cleo Coyle

Yes, when I took the original photos for this recipe post, one of our adopted New York Strays, Durango (aka Dooch!) decided that a peach also makes a very good beach ball. And, of course, after playtime, he decided to take a taste of the delicious water droplets shimmering on the edge of my watermelon garnish. So drink with joy, and...