How to Make Spanish Drinks

Spain, a colorful country saturated with color and other sensory delights, takes the enjoyment of life very seriously. High-quality and delicious meals and snacks complement the Spanish lifestyle with flair and flavor. Beverages, both with and without alcohol, are no exception to this rule; colorful, tasty and refreshing, these warm weather concoctions are sure to impress. Icy lemon granizado, vino de verano (summer wine) and classic sangria, all Spanish favorites, are all simple to make. Try them out with the steps below the next time you host a festive gathering.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ice
• Sliced lemons
• Sliced oranges
• Sliced apples
• Red wine
• Lemon-lime soda
• Sugar
• Water
• Triple sec
• Brandy
• Food processor

1. Determine how many people for whom you are preparing drinks. Adjust the ingredients and amounts accordingly. Each of the following three beverage recipes are easily adjusted to the number of people you expect to serve. Keep extra supplies on hand just in case you run out of beverages before the fun comes to a close.

2. Prepare the granizado a day in advance as it requires time in the freezer. Juice 12 lemons, taking care to remove the seeds. Set aside. Heat two cups of water with 1 3/4 cup of sugar until sugar is melted thoroughly. Stir in lemon juice and allow mixture to cool. Freeze overnight.

3. Begin to prepare the sangria early too, so that the fruit can "marinate" in the wine for a good while. This adds a tasty (and powerful) zing to the fruit if guests choose to eat them. Add sliced fruit to two bottles of red wine, add brandy and triple sec to taste and then stir in sugar to taste. Sangria is traditionally quite sweet so play with the quantities until you have it just right. Add two cans of lemon-lime soda just before serving.

4. Have ingredients standing by for vino de verano. This drink is better prepared immediately before serving so that the fizzy soday does not lose it's carbonation. When ready, simply mix equal portions of red wine and lemon-lime soda over ice and garnish with a lemon slice.

5. When granizado is frozen, it is ready to be removed from the freezer. Just before serving, remove chunks of frozen lemon concoction and crush in a food processor. Serve immediately in shallow glasses with lemon slices and a spoon. Enjoy in the shade as the sun will quickly melt the granizado.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute seltzer water for lemon-lime soda if a less sweet version of the vine de verano or sangria is desired.
• Try different kinds of fruit; grapefruit, pear and peaches go well with the wine mixture.
• As the red wine is diluted with other liquids, the subtlety and flavor of high-end wine will be lost; go cheap.
• Be careful with the fruit in the sangria. After marinating, the fruit can be very alcoholic.

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[amylaine]

on 5/23/2008 Sounds great.