What does the Fourth of July mean to you?
Burgers on the grill?
Frolicking in your bathing suit?
Sweet, delicious freedom?
Well, I am sure you can guess what it means to me: becoming mindnumbingly plastered over the course of many hours in the blazing sun.
I am taking a super long weekend to charge the batteries and pickle myself. Yes, I realize these seem like two contradictory statements, but it works like this: the alcohol numbs the chaos in my brain, releasing me into a replenishing and rejuvenating period of rest.
Trust me, this works. Alcohol is the answer.
Might I suggest you try the same? I find Annie Birdie’s famous sangria the perfect elixir to lull me off in to a deep and wonderful sleep. Having one glass is simply impossible. It is hands-down the best sangria I have ever tasted.
Happy 4th…sleep well, be safe. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
Classic Spanish Sangria
Adapted from All Recipes
1/2 lemon
1/2 lime
1/2 orange
1/2 apple
1 peach
1 1/2 cups rum
1/2 cup white sugar
1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry red wine (Annie uses Shiraz)
1 cup orange juice
Make sure the fruit, rum, wine, and orange juice well chilled. Slice the lemon, lime and orange into thin rounds and chop the apple and peach and place in a large glass pitcher. Pour in the rum and sugar. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours to develop the flavors.
When ready to serve, crush the fruit lightly with a wooden spoon and stir in the wine and orange juice. Adjust sweetness to taste.
9:56 am on July 2nd, 2008
Have a great time and be safe.
I have freaking nail art of the american flag on my toes.
I love me some Sangria
Oh dear…American Flag nail art…how Midwestern. Gotta love the kitsch.
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10:17 am on July 2nd, 2008
Might I recommend a drink that is fitting for the forth? It is called a “Kentucky Crack-House” invented in my living room when we ran out of Jagermeister. It is simple, half a pint of Redbull (official sponsor of all things amped) and a shot of Jim Beam (official sponsor of stupid red-necks everywhere). The basic premise works like that of a Jager-Bomb, take your shot of whiskey and drop it into the glass of Red-Bull. It will blow your world apart. Sangria is nice, but to truly celebrate your country by blowing up a small piece of it, you need the fuel to keep you going. Just a thought. Have a great 4th.
Sweet fancy Moses…this seems like it would screw you up. My friend Bawstin calls red bull with any sort of alcohol “the mind eraser”; I could not agree more. it always scrambles my brain. Well done.
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10:28 am on July 2nd, 2008
Ha! I use a very similar recipe, except I use cheap-ass jug wine and leave out the peach. The result is very high-octane and tasty, and gets my friends to do things like sing karaoke or moon the freeway.
Yeah, I think the last time we made this she bought a $4 bottle of Shiraz…the beauty of sangria. As far as mooning the freeway, I don’t think you need sangria, dear.
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10:33 am on July 2nd, 2008
Snort – my friends call it Shangria. It just tastes better with jug wine. I haven’t tried box wine yet, but don’t think I won’t!
Box wine is making a comeback…it is supposed to be good. KLASSY!
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10:35 am on July 2nd, 2008
[hiccup]
Excuse you!
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10:37 am on July 2nd, 2008
We made classic sangria AND white peach sangria for my sister’s wedding reception. And wouldn’t ya know fun was had by all… I wonder if there’s a connection?
Oh, white peach sangria. Sounds awesome. There must have been some serious hangovers after that reception.
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10:55 am on July 2nd, 2008
Love the Sangria! My recipe calls for a little brandy for more depth of flavor. I wish you all a Happy Independence Day and please take a moment to lift a glass (or two) to those that provide us this luxury!
Oooh, I can see how a healthy splash of brandy would really liven it up. Good idea.
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11:02 am on July 2nd, 2008
I used to make sangria when I worked at a certain restaurant chain in college – if you guess correctly I will buy lunch there ha ha
Chilli’s? OOOh, or Chevy’s…I kinda love the flautas there…my secret shame (one of many).
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11:25 am on July 2nd, 2008
You can make sangria out of anything. I was on a train going to Pamplona and we made some from Fanta and some box wine that tasted like turpentine by itself.
Also, I think that pic looks staged. You’re wearing full makeup and a boob shirt. Jus’ sayin’.
That is the beauty of sangria.
I always wear boob shirts. ALWAYS.
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11:34 am on July 2nd, 2008
kind of close – Hooters – I worked there for a month in 1994 never again
I hear their wings are delicious…I have never been.
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12:09 pm on July 2nd, 2008
Have a rock-n-roll boozed up holiday weekend, Lemmonex . . . and I’ll be sure to do the same. Freedom boozin’! I’ll be sure to tip a few in your honor.
Thanks, friend. Freedom boozin’ is the best kinda boozin’.
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12:23 pm on July 2nd, 2008
Now you just wait a second missy! We Spaniards have our sangria with brandy not rum but I’m cool with the boob shirt.
Wow…you called me Missy. At least the shirt gets approval.
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12:55 pm on July 2nd, 2008
sangria in a box is good stuff, kids! don’t believe the haters (I-66 once spent an entire afternoon at a bbq trying to avoid it, even being photographed with it). add some fruit, and people will NEVER KNOW you didn’t make it yourself. and they’ll get plastered, thinking it’s a grown up sippy cup. mission accomplished.
Grown up sippy cup! Fantastic. I have had some sangia from a bottle and it was really good as well, though a touch sweet. Gives me a tummy ache.
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1:28 pm on July 2nd, 2008
Dude. I’m so taking you to Hooters.
I think I prefer beer to sangria there.
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2:57 pm on July 2nd, 2008
Pretty picture of a girl (only thing that could be better is if she left some sangria for the rest of us
) , alcohol. What is there not to love about this post.
Aw, thanks Daniel. I will save some for you next time.
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3:03 pm on July 2nd, 2008
Boob shirt or legs for days… gotta be working one or the other
Happy 4th!!! My plans sound identical to yours, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Methinks I shall have to bring the sangria along to my BBQs…
I don’t even think of this as one of my “boob shirts” per se. It is a gift really; every shirt is a boob shirt. Happy 4th to you, too!
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3:51 pm on July 2nd, 2008
yayaya, the Spaniards, teh Spaniards…. i make mine (berry white sangria) with vodka and it must be served in small glasses (not those big red solo cups) or people would not make it out of my house alive. seriously. happy fourth!
Berry white! Sounds like heaven…happy fourth to you too, Dig!
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4:16 pm on July 2nd, 2008
cute!
Why, thanks.
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4:34 pm on July 2nd, 2008
A boozehound passed out next to a child’s teddy bear… nice juxtaposition.
That’s my teddy bear! He has seen some fucked up shit, let me tell you…
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5:50 pm on July 2nd, 2008
Inebriation, gluttony and the type of chauvinistic patriotism that would make Stephen Colbert blush. This year, I’ve even set-up a Reagan Bush in my living room. It’s a fake tropical tree with American flags, red, white and blue lights, garland and ribbons all over it. Still no pictures of Reagan or Bush on it though.
I usually don’t drink that much, keep a good diet and I’m not that patriotic, though I still think Europeans are socialist fags.
Well, as long as you remember the Europeans are fags…
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1:51 am on July 3rd, 2008
Here’s to getting tore up and passing out in the hot sun.
And don’t be hard on Lemmonex, she can make a turtleneck look like a boob shirt.
Jewcano to the rescue…thanks for making that clear. Make sure to wear some sunscreen before you pass out…
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1:17 pm on July 5th, 2008
At first glance the jug looked like a fish bowl.
That would be weird…and potentially very messy.
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10:08 pm on July 5th, 2008
I thought the glass was ice water when I first looked. Something very similar may have happened to me about 10-12 years ago. Nowadays when I drink, which is rare save for this past month and football season, I stick to two things: Guinness and Yuengling. Although Landshark is better than I thought it would be.
Got a recipe too that I debuted yesterday on my nice little $17 grill. Porkchops. BBQ Sauce, whatever kind I have at the time. One of these days I will try to cook one of yours.
Went to Harborplace today but didn’t go to Hooters.
Found your blog from Shannon’s via Express. Don’t use the drug a.k.a. Mary Jane, the name comes from the ski area in Colorado. Cheers.
Well no matter how you found me, I’m glad you are here. Thanks for stopping by.
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9:56 am on July 7th, 2008
You inspired me to tie one for July 4th. Although I’ll admit I stuck with beer. Lot’s and lot’s of ice cold beer. And of course, being a man, lot’s of grunting and adjusting in front of a smokey charcoal grill.
That picture is good for America.
I tell myself every day I am good for America…thanks.
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