Summer Recipes

Sparkling Sangria

1/4 cup orange flavored liqueur (recommended: Triple Sec or Grand Marnier)
1/4 cup almond liqueur (recommended: Amaretto)
12 strawberries, sliced
1 pint raspberries
1 bottle sparkling wine (Lorikeet, perhaps?)
4 seedless grapes

Combine liqueurs and fruit in the bottom of a medium pitcher and lightly muddle. Fill pitcher with sparkling wine. Place a single grape in the bottom of each glass. The yeast on the grape skin will help retain some fizz in your drink. Spoon a bit of muddled berry from the pitcher into each Champagne glass then pour in the liquid. Serve immediately.

Recipe Courtesy of Thirty Minute Meals (Racheal Ray) via the Food Network website

Summer Recipes

Champagne and Pomegranate Cocktail

1 sugar cube
1 fluid ounce pomegranate juice
3 fluid ounces dry sparkling wine
Pomegranate seeds, optional
Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne flute. Pour the pomegranate juice over it, then the sparkling wine. Drop a few pomegranate seeds into the glass. Serve.
Yield: 1 drink

Recipe Courtesy of The Food Network

Summer Recipes

Red Wine Risotto with Peas

3 1/2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup arborio rice, or medium-grain white rice
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/3 cup frozen peas, defrosted, optional
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus additional for garnish
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring the broth to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover the broth and keep it warm over very low heat.

Melt the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Stir in the rice and cook for about 2 minutes until the rice is toasted. Add the wine and stir until it is absorbed, about 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup of hot broth; simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 6 minutes. Repeat, adding 3/4 cup of hot broth 2 more times, stirring often, about 12 minutes longer. At this point, the risotto can be made 4 hours ahead. Refrigerate the risotto (the rice will still be firm) and remaining broth, uncovered, until cool, then cover and keep them refrigerated until ready to proceed.

Bring the remaining broth to a simmer, then cover and keep it warm over very low heat. Stir 3/4 cup of hot broth into the partially cooked risotto over medium heat until the broth is absorbed and the risotto is hot, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining broth and simmer until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the peas and parsley. Add the 1/2 cup of Parmesan. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Spoon the risotto into bowls. Sprinkle additional cheese over and serve.

Recipe Courtesy of Everyday Italian (Giada De Laurantis) via the Food Network

Summer Recipes

Shredded Red Leaf Salad
with Creamy Red Wine Vinaigrette

1/2 large shallot, minced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
25 grinds freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
1 head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, and cut into large chiffonade

Whisk together shallot, mayonnaise, vinegar, and pepper in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in olive oil until homogenous. Season with salt, to taste. Add lettuce to bowl and toss to coat with dressing.

Recipe Courtesy of Dave Lieberman via the Food Network

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