Pack’a Punch Sangria

A Wine Punch & Cake.... Shut The Front Door

As you can see this punch has already been sampled. It was sheer quality control my friends for your benefit. If you are looking for an adult libation that will please a crowd this is it! It is ridiculously simple and you will have ingredients left to make a Sangria Cake that will make you the sweetheart of the office (or whatever). You can make larger or smaller amounts to your taste. If fresh fruit is not in season or available you may use frozen. I advocate shopping your local farmers market and freezing for the fall & winter.... shop local whenever you can. This stuff makes fantastic wassail for the Christmas season so you will want to have some fruit on hand (a blog for another time).

1 3 liter bottle of Sangria 

1 container fresh cherries

3 sliced Gala or Fuji apples

3 sliced peaches

2 sliced small oranges

1 lg cluster white grapes

1 lg cluster red grapes

Mix all this goodness together the night before your shin-dig for optimum flavor. Use a dispenser, punch bowl, or other creative container. Serve in tumblers, Mason jars, or even solo cups with a strip of that new zebra striped duct tape (or duck if you’re really southern) around  it .... get creative. 

Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the wine punch for the cake. When the punch is gone strain off the fruit. Discard the oranges or use them on a piece of salmon (yes, I use every little bit... I have two sons). When the cake is done pile that gorgeous fruit in the center of the Bundt cake. If there is enough left over... freeze that goodness!

Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 (3 ounce) package cherry flavored gelatin
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup Sangria wine
•  
• Glaze
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup Sangria wine

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
2. In a large bowl, stir together cake mix and gelatin mix. Make a well in the center and pour in eggs, oil and Sangria wine. Beat on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat 4 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Pour 1/2 of Sangria wine glaze over top of cake while still warm. Let set for 10 minutes then remove cake from pan. Allow cake to cool fully before pouring the remaining glaze on top.
4. To make the Glaze: In a small bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar and 1/2 cup Sangria wine.

Southern Charm, Fun, & Food

Girls & Football

All Year Long She Behaved Like A Lady & Then Football Season Started

A love of football, tailgating, and alma mater is not always passed on to children from their fathers. In the south especially it is also passed on by their mothers. As you can see in the picture Oklahoma State University inspires loyalty and the Cowboy spirit. This is my youngest son and he paints his face for every home game (I like to call this look KISS & OSU Love Child). Football season has been a source of tradition from favorite tailgate snacks, saving for season tickets, and the joy of pulling together for your team. Lots of southern ladies spend time hauling kids (and smelly gear) to youth football, making sandwiches for bus trips, working concession stands, and knowing every name on the team along with what position they play. It’s only natural that these same ladies are the most ardent fans. As another season brings out 'the boys of fall’ and I try to make the perfect batch of Kickin’ Chicken Wing Sauce I just wanted to muse on all the fine ladies that make the grid iron pastime an American staple.

This is my very first blog EVER. I have zero idea if I’m doing any of this correctly but I do hope if you read it that it brought fond memories of moms, teachers, and grandmothers that made football season fun for you. If you’re lucky you’ll be in the OSU stadium soon. GO POKES!