First post should be something refreshing

If you are living in Texas, and even if you are not, you probably need something that is very refreshing right about now.  This is a European style Sangria with an additional drink, in case a bottle of wine was not enough.

Sangria
1 cup of orange juice
0 - 1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup of brandy, any brand
2 oranges
750 ml of wine, red, white, or rose', chilled
4 cups of ice, crushed or cubed

In a 2 quart pitcher, mix 1 cup of orange juice, sugar and brandy together. Cut one of the oranges in half and squeeze juice into pitcher.  Thoroughly wash and half the second orange and then slice each half into fourths. Add to pitcher.  Pour in entire bottle of wine (or whatever is left, in my case, I have usually drank at least one glass of it, just to make sure it is safe) into pitcher and add ice.  Stir and serve.

Spanish Sunrise (or pinot gringo)
My son made developed this drink and he said the name is Pinot Gringo.  Whatever you call it, the drink is delicious.

1 shot of brandy
1 shot of of marashino cherry juice
1 marashino cherry
1 cup of Sangria (from recipe above)
crushed ice

In a 12 ounce glass, pour in brandy, cherry juice and cherry. Add Sangria and top with crushed ice.

Enjoy !

D

PS, sugar needs to be added to your taste.  If you have a dry wine,such as a cabernet sauvignon, you will need to add more sugar than a sweet wine such as muscato.  Start out with less sugar and add more or start out with more sugar and just add more wine.