BOURBON, APPLE, AND PEAR SANGRIA...

Good things happened over the weekend. And good things are going to happen over the next few months. Therefore, a cocktail is in order...

I saw Gone Girl on Friday night. It was so good! The cast was perfect. The plot was amazing. Amy was CRAZY. I wasn't fond of the end, but the ending doesn't prevent me from saying that the movie was good. It just was. On Saturday morning, I woke up to a cold house, which meant it was cold outside - which made me smile and put furry socks on my feet. I love fall weather more than anything! On Saturday night, I had dinner at True Food Kitchen for the first time. The food was so good and so incredibly fresh. I had dinner with a long-time friend who I can totally relate to. That means the conversation was great, too. There is nothing like never-ending great conversation over great food.... And now it's Sunday afternoon. A wonderful lady in a retention department just gave me a generous amount off of a renewal bill (always ask for the "retention department" if you are thinking of cancelling any type of service plan), then my mom told me she was sending me a care package, and this chicken chili is bubbling away in my Crock Pot. I'll be it having for dinner tonight with a side of that sangria you see there. Like I said, good things happened.  

In terms of what's going to happen over the next few months... Well all I can say for now is that it being fearless pays off (more on what that means to me here). Things that I have wanted to happen for a long time are slowwwwwly happening. But I'll take slow happenings over no happenings at all. I'll share more as soon as I know more...

So in celebration of all of that, I nixed a cake I was going to bake and made this sangria instead. It's apple and pear season, so the way this tastes (SO good) is the best it will taste this year. It's pretty, it's sweet, it's warm (the bourbon is very "warming" as it goes down), and incredibly fresh tasting. This is totally something I would serve along with Thanksgiving dinner or at a holiday party. Love it.

Here is what you need and what to do: (serves about 6)
Adapted from this recipe

1 bottle of fruity white wine (I used a Riesling)
1/2 cup good bourbon
1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar (or less depending on the sweetness of the wine)
Zest of one lemon
Juice of two lemons
1 Red Delicious apple, thinly sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
1 Bosc pear, thinly sliced
Club soda
Ice

Add the wine, bourbon, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, apple, and pear slices to a large pitcher. Stir and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. The longer it sits, the better it gets!

When you are ready to serve it, pour it in a glass and top it off with ice and a little club soda for effervescence. Garnish with a few apple and pear slices.

Enjoy!

Images by me