Welcome to the May edition of “In Purrsuit of Flavours where we join our host “fur-iends” The Canadian Cats and the French boys over at Easy Weimaraner’s Blog . Because today is the 5th of May, we’re taking a look at the celebration known as Cinco de Mayo. If you click on the host links, you’ll see other shared recipes from around Blogville.
Before we share a recipe, what is this thing called Cinco de Mayo anyway? Cinco de Mayo (which is Spanish for “Fifth of May”) is an annual celebration held every May 5. It commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862 under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory of the smaller Mexican force against a larger French force provided a big morale booster for the Mexicans. A year later though, an even larger French force defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla, and Mexico City soon fell to the invaders although the celebration is still commemorates the Mexican victory.
Rooted in the Second French intervention in Mexico in the aftermath of the 1846–48 Mexican–American War and the 1858-1861 Reform War, internal strife between Liberals and Conservatives in Mexico as well as the near bankrupting of the Mexico Treasury led President Benito Juárez to issuing a moratorium whereby all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years. In response, France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and peacefully withdrew, but France, at the time ruled by Napoleon III, used the opportunity to establish an empire in Mexico that would favor French interests. The empire was part of an envisioned “Latin America” (term used to imply cultural kinship of the region with France) that would rebuild French influence in the American continent and exclude AnglophoneAmerican territories.
Cinco de Mayo is more popularly celebrated in the United States than in Mexico and the date has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. These celebrations began in California, where they have been observed annually since 1863.
Now that we know the reason for this fun and tasty celebration, let’s get to the recipe we’re sharing. We figured there’d be plenty of tasty tacos, burritos and enchiladas along with course plenty of margarita recipes, so we thought we’d go for something a little different. Sangria.
INGREDIENTS
- 1-1/2 bottles Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1 cups Brandy
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 oranges cut into 1/2″ rounds
- 2 lemons cut into 1/2″ rounds
- 2 limes cut into 1/2″ rounds
- 2 apples cored and cut into 1/2″ cubes
- 2 cups chilled sparkling water
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large pitcher, combine cabernet, brandy, orange juice, and sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves.
- Add oranges, lemons, limes and apples. Stir.
- Add sparkling water and stir to combine.
- Chill overnight, or serve immediately over ice.
Sangria is a refreshing type of an adult summer time drink that will go well with all sorts of food. I’ve made it without the brandy to keep it nice and light and even used a Pinot (or a red blend) in place of the Cabernet. Sangria can easily be customized to suit your own taste buds.
“Arriba, abajo, al centro y para dentro!” Cheers.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Sangria! This recipe looks so cooling and good for a hot summer evening…or well,, just about any time! LOL!
Precisely! Sangria can be a nice beverage any ole time.
Sangria weather straight ahead.
I can’t wait . . .
🍷🍷🍷
Salud!
Granny loved Sangria when she was younger, until she had too much on a vacation in Spain…from that day she didn’ touched it ever again…MOL…Well…I think I like it, so can I have some…😸Hope you all had a great Cinco De Mayo. Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend🐾😽💞
Spanish sangria does tend to pack quite the punch, doesn’t it? ☺️
Lulu: “We hear that there’s a local sushi place that has this sangria they make with basil that our Mama really likes!”
Charlee: “Who’s Basil?”
Lulu: “I don’t know. The bartender, maybe.”
Y-u-m. That sounds like a fantastic sangria. Or bartender. 😊
So simple yet so sweet and beautiful! The blends of colors from the wine and then the fruit definitely makes me dream of hot summer days! 🙂
It’s the perfect adult beverage for the summer that goes with so many kinds of food.
This sounds quite refreshing!
It really is with the added bonus of a mild buzz. 😉
Now that is my kind of refreshing summer beverage. Gotta go buy some fruit (and print this recipe!)
It’s a lovely refreshing beverage with a bit of a kick. 😉
Mom would be plastered by that drink yet one must have some alcohol to give the needed kick. Otherwise its sparkling water with fruit….Sangria sounds so much more intriguing.
Shoko and Tyebe
It IS a quite interesting drink. And ever so tasty.
Mom is drooling for a glass of that tasty sangria!!!
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
It’s one of those yummy summer beverages that goes with just about anything.
Such a fancy bevvy Miss Monika an Stormin Sweetie Norman an Elsa!!!
It lookss SO-O reefreshin!
**purrss** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) LadyMew
Fancy, perhaps. But definitely tasty and easy to make.
Easy to make iss allwayss wellcome rite Miss Monika??
Absolutely.
Happy Cinco! Fun fact, Lady is not a Sangria fan, which is weird because she likes all the things that go into it.
Bummer, that’s unfortunate.
Thank you for the history lesson. Sangria is an old, good summer drink.
And very tasty.
I love Sangria…but it’s dangerous for me! It goes down so smooth and refreshing on a nice summer’s day and then, when you stand up…BOOM! LOL That said, it would make a great camping drink!
That, it would. 🍷
I’m pretty certain the real history behind Cinco de Mayo was to promote the sales of margaritas. That history stuff is pretty thin. But in the LA area 5/5 is almost a sacred tradition, a high holy day so might as well celebrate!
It doesn’t take much to twist my arm for a liquid celebration so I’m good with any high holy days.
That’s very similar to a sangria recipe we like to make. I also like it with white wine and different fruits like pears and nectarines. Yum!
Wow, that white sangria combination sounds fabulous.
Today is a drinking day! Sangria is perfect!
Sounds like the perfect day to enjoy a refreshing beverage. Salud.
I live in California so I knew the history of Cinco de Mayo. I also love Sangria. Yummy treat.
Have a fabulous day, my friend. Scritches to Elsa and a big smooch to Norman. ♥
A tasty beverage any day in my mind. Happy mid-week. The pupsters say thanks for the scritches and smooches.
Sangria was “in” when I was in my 20s…..it’s a yummy concoction and there are an infinite number of recipes. Yours is definitely one of the best I’ve seen!
Hugs, Pam
Thanks. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual beverages associated with Mexican food.
In 1862 the Americans were too preoccupied with killing each other
Sadly things haven’t changed much.
oooh we love sangria… and we love the perfect drinking instruction ;O))))
No instructions needed for drinking. 🙂
If only we had friends coming over….but I’ll keep the recipe for when we do!
I’ve tended to make agua de valencia when I can get good oranges…a bottle of cava mixed with a third of bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice, a couple of tablespoons of gin, same of vodka, Chill before drinking or pour over ice cubes.
Yum, your recipe sounds delish and I’ll keep this one in my recipe box. Sounds like a tasty treat for an intimate crowd on a summer evening.
Have not thought of Sangria in years although I used to always have it at a favorite Mexican restaurant of mine years ago. OK, off to the market for ingredients…. 🙂 Salud!
Outstanding! It can be easy to default to beer or margaritas with Mexican food but one of the best meals I’ve ever had was in Mallorca and the highlight of the meal was the best sangria I’ve ever tasted.