2 July 2014

Let's Have a Beach Blanket Picnic and Share Some Cherry Peach Sangria

Cherry Peach Sangria (photo from My Recipes)
Welcome back to this months Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club where we continue our celebration of delicious food on the "lighter" side. We always appreciate you joining us for this event where we get together on the first Wednesday of every month to create a delicious meal from appetizers to dessert with a theme in mind. Ultimately our love of food, blogging and our commitment to a health conscious lifestyle is what has brought these ladies and one gent from Canada and the United States ( joining east and west and north and south) together.

Our very first Virtual Supper Club was originally sponsored by Cooking Light magazine and although the faces may have changed since its birth in 2009 we have always had a love for Cooking Light magazine which has an emphasis on healthy eating and living. Moving on to its 5th year this is a team effort where we continue to share a love for healthy eating and living. We look forward each month to strengthening our bonds, and enjoying each others company virtually. The party goes on for days!!
___________________________
"Along the Beach"

To walk along the beach,
The sun against your face,
Feels every bit as sweet,
As the warmth of an embrace…

 Unknown
___________________________

Here at the Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club we have dreamed up a menu on the healthier side without giving up any of the comfort you find in delicious food. For this months menu the Cooking Light Virtual Supper is enjoying the lazy days of summer with a picnic on the beach, a theme by Susan of The Spice Garden. Let's see what the group has brought to the table.

Sarah of All Our Finger in the Pie starts us off with her own recipe inspired by Local Lounge an appetizer of Toasted Foccacia Topped with Strawberry Rhubarb Preserve, Pickled Radishes and Pea Shoots.

Shelby of The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch totes along a delicious Farro, Cherry, and Walnut Salad. 

Susan of The Spice Garden whisks us away to the beach with a tasty main dish of Lemon Ginger Fried Chicken. Crispy and satisfying.

Jerry of A Life, Lived is bringing along a seasonal and delicious Zucchini Ribbons with Lemon and Pecorino.

Sandi of Whistlestop Cafe Cooking ends with a bang with a luscious dessert. Lemon Polenta Cake with Summer Berries is sure to WOW your guests.

I got the wild card this month and opted to bring a refreshing Cherry Peach Sangria. Albariño is the primary grape used to make dry white wine in the Rias Baixas (Lower Inlets) section of the Galicia region of Northwestern Spain. Considered by many to be Spain's premier quality white wine, Albariño is also known in Portugal as Alvarinho and often used as a component of Vinho Verde. Typically, wines made from Albariño are very aromatic, often described as having scents of almonds or almond paste, apples, peaches, citrus, and flowers or grass. Albariño wines are particularly suited to seafood due to their bracing acidity. If you cannot find this wine at your local liquor store North Americans can substitute a dry Riesling or a fruit-forward Sauvignon Blanc.


**Cherry Peach Sangria**

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brandy
2 1/2 cups pitted Rainier cherries
1 (750-milliliter) bottle albariño wine, chilled
1 cup chilled club soda
1 peach, thinly sliced
3 thyme sprigs
1 sprig purple basil (optional)
1 sprig sweet basil (optional)

Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup brandy in a pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves. Add cherries and wine, and chill for 8 hours or up to overnight. Just before serving, stir in club soda and remaining ingredients.


You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison. Best Blogger Tips

21 comments:

  1. A wonderful drink! So refreshing and delicious.

    I'd love to have a picnic on the beach...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my, your sangria is absolutely stunning. The peaches and cherries both have been fabulous this year and I love the sprigs of basil.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  3. sangria is definitely a boozy beverage i enjoy, and this batch is lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am picturing this sangria on our front porch as the 4th of July parade passes by. I would have never thought of adding thyme and basil but why not??

    Best,
    Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a nice way to start lovely to begin a picnic meal, Val! Sangria is such a pretty offering too, never mind those wonderful fruity flavours in that wine! YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJuly 02, 2014

    This looks amazing! I'll have to whip up a batch when I see peaches in the market. I wonder how local cherries would work instead of the ranier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure you could use whatever stone fruit was in season Jerry. I must admit my peaches were not local this time of year.

      Delete
  7. That sounds wonderful. I love new ideas for sangria. I'm curious about that wine too. I'm not familiar with it and now I want to see if I can find it just to see what it's like.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the menus the group puts together. Now, for that glass of sangria........

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mmmm...sangria, that'a my kind of drink. Bring it when we go on G's sailboat this summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Sangria also. It was my drink of choice when I was in Mexico and I imagine you may have had your fair share when in Spain. I used a sauvignon blanc for this recipe but I must seek out the Spanish Albariño.

      Delete
  10. I'm only about healthy food and active lifestyle this time of the year. Right now I daydream of being on the beach with a jar of this peach sangria to share. Oh...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Woo hoo! That sangria is perfect for today! And it would be great on the beach!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sangria is just the best . . . and so versatile. I'm making this Val, with all of the fresh peaches that are juicy and sweet right now!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love a good pitcher of sangria! This sounds so refreshing and picnic-perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  14. OK yes let's do that.
    It's 90 here and I'm ready for some ice cold sangria to chill me down

    ReplyDelete
  15. I tasted sangria for the first time on a college trip to Spain and fell in love. This looks like a delicious version of the original and the fresh herbs sound wonderful in it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This screams summer drinking!

    ReplyDelete
  17. That looks AMAZING and so refreshing!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I can't believe I've never had peaches in my sangria before, Val!! You've inspired me completely. I cannot wait until Spring. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love white wine sangria - so refreshing. Try using a peach liqueur in place of the brandy. Cherries make it so pretty - great idea.

    ReplyDelete

Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

This blog uses comment moderation therefore SPAMMERS, SELF-PROMOTERS and ADVERTISERS will be deleted.