Week 27: Sangria Rocks

Do snakes and sangria have something in common? Not really, but in today’s blog post they do…sort of.

To celebrate the Fourth of July I went on a hike with my dog Willow in Snake Rocks Preserve in Woodstock NY. For many years I’ve driven past the trail sign and each time I think to myself, “That is the last place I’m going to go!” I mean, why would anyone want to go on a hike where there are snakes in rocks that are preserved and protected?
Well, as it turns out, I’m so glad that I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and take a visit.

As you can see in the pictures, Snake Rocks Preserve was really beautiful. The hike was an easy loop through bluestone rock formations, an old quarry, and a pool where I saw turtles and even some fish.
As I was walking through the trail I found myself completely immersed in the geology, and then in a whoosh came thoughts of my mother as I was literally bathed in the recollection of her interest in the subject. Recognizing yet another quality I have in common with her, I allowed myself to feel like we were sharing the experience.

It’s one of those nature or nurture questions – did I acquire my fascination for rock formations, stones, crystals, stalactites, stalagmites, ice caves, lava beds, and I suppose the general topic of geology from witnessing her, or is it my own natural curiosity? I don’t know, but it wasn’t until the other day when I was hiking that my connection with my mom and her interest in geology became clear.

While there are no longer any photos of me or my sisters from our childhood that we shared with our mom (a story I might explain sometime), I do recall carousel after carousel of Kodak slides. Some slides contained images of our trips to national parks. In these photos, I was about two years old (or younger) and was strategically placed on some significant rock for a photo op.
Several years later—regardless of my protests—my mom came to my class (on more than one occasion) to give a slideshow presentation to share these beautiful natural wonders, and without fail she always slipped in one of those baby pictures to embarrass me.

Now onto this week’s recipe…

Original Recipe

Un-Sangria in my opinion

Apparently, snakes are to Snake Rocks Preserve as wine is to my mom’s sangria recipe.

During my hike, I did not see a single snake, so I have no idea why the preserve is titled as such. Nor, do I understand why my mom’s recipe is called sangria because it doesn’t contain a single drop of wine. Needless to say, I didn’t bother making it. Make this punch as is, if you want, but if you’d like it to resemble a real sangria, just add wine instead of grape juice.

I tend to make “empty out the produce drawer” sangria by combining whatever fruit I have on hand with wine, a little vodka, freshly squeezed fruit juice (or orange essential oil), a little bit of honey, and a top-off of orange or lime seltzer. That’s my lower in sugar version!

To make traditional sangria, I recommend using decent quality wine, a liquor like vodka or brandy, fruit juice or sweetener (such as simple syrup or triple sec), and fresh fruit. Pour into a glass and add orange Pellegrino or seltzer just before serving. No matter the ingredients, have fun. You kind of can’t go wrong!

One of my favorite cocktail recipe books is “101 Sangrias and Pitcher Drinks” by Kim Haasarud. While I’ve never followed any of her recipes exactly as written, simply because I just don’t do that, I find it’s great inspiration for party drinks.

 

Week 27 Recipe Pick

Federal Hill Fried Peppers

I’m pretty sure I’ll add some sort of meat to this dish,  but so many of my mother’s meat recipes involve veal and lamb and I just can’t go there.

Tags: cocktail, liquor, punch, wine