Susanna’s Sangria
May 11, 2009
At my bridal shower, guests were asked to bring a recipe card filled out with their favorite dish. I got a terrific collection of tried and true recipes from my friends and family, and I still haven’t gotten around to trying every one of them. I’ve kept Susanna’s recipe for sangria for a decade, always noticing it as I thumbed through my recipe binder but never having a good reason to make a vat-sized alcoholic drink. Inspired by the mimosas Robert and Lauren suggested for a recent family birthday get-together — everyone loved them — I decided to build our Mother’s Day menu around this drink. And so finally, we made sangria. Or rather, J. made it — he cooked the whole meal for all 12 of us! It was definitely a special and delicious addition to the chimichurri steak, tortilla chips, guacamole, and zucchini and onion skewers we served.
If you don’t feel like buying superfine sugar for this recipe, you can make a simple syrup instead: 1 part sugar to 1 part water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, then let it cool. Since this recipe is pretty much all alcohol, don’t worry about diluting it with the syrup!
One of the things I love about my collection of recipe cards is seeing them handwritten and annotated by people that are important to me. On this card, Susanna wrote “this will knock your socks (and whatever else) off!” She’s right — it’s easy to drink, and potent. Consider yourself warned!
Susanna’s Sangria
3 lemons, washed, halved and cut into 1/4″ slices
3 oranges, washed, halved and cut into 1/4″ slices
1/4 c. superfine sugar (or more, to taste)
2 bottles red table wine
1 pint triple sec
1 pint brandy
1 bottle champagne or sparkling wine
Combine all ingredients except for champagne in a large punch bowl or pitcher (use two if you don’t have one large enough, and just put half the ingredients in each). Allow to chill in the refrigerator overnight.
Add champagne just before serving, and stir well. Serve over ice if desired.
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I'm Dara, the Chick in the Kitchen. Living in the suburbs of Manhattan with my two school-aged boys and husband. Feeding my family something more diverse than a different shape of pasta each night. Read more 
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5 Comments
1.
merrie | May 11, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Looks delicious. Maybe it will be the featured drink of my next Jeans Party:)
2.
Jodi | May 11, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Love the lime background:) Love the adding of the champagne. And, hey Merrie, what the heck is a Jeans Party?
3.
Lauren | May 12, 2009 at 10:06 am
it was delicious!!! I couldn’t stop myself from having multiple helpings!
4.
merrie | May 13, 2009 at 12:18 pm
A jeans party is a party where the Jean’s Guy comes and sells jeans:) Seriously. I themed my party as a GNO and had 3 signature vodka drinks. No vodka was left in my house after the party.
5. chickinthekitchen.com &ra&hellip | June 27, 2010 at 6:14 pm
[...] most complimented creation of the week was the Susanna’s Sangria I brought to Merrie’s New Moon viewing party (a refresher before Eclipse comes out on [...]
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