Strawberry Coconut Sangria
May 5, 2018 by Nicole Collins
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!
After cooking and celebrating all week, we've made it to the grand finale. It's Sangria Saturday!!!
It's time to siesta and fiesta! We've earned it!
Not like cooking and eating totally easy and delicious food is really hard work. But, if we have to pretend that it was to feel like we've earned some party time today, so be it.
Do you guys have any fun celebrations happening today? What's on the menu? Or, are you feeling more siesta than fiesta. It's cool either way!
I've got a couple of things on the agenda for today. I think my first stop might be the farmer's market. I haven't totally decided yet. But, I'm really feeling like spending some time outside this morning, so why not do it while I'm shopping? Maybe I'll end up with a whole bag full of things I don't need again.
Later in the afternoon, I get to pick up a new stand alone freezer that I ordered 2 weeks ago. I've been wanting a freezer since I bought my house over 10 years ago, and now the time has finally come! It's been a little bit of a fiasco getting the logistics of this freezer project to come together...first, I didn't think I had anywhere to put it, because the washing machine that came with my house was pretty much stuck to the floor. And, any time I tried to move it, the whole back came off of the washing machine (which is a whole separate issue that I'm not even going to start to think about right now). Then, I read that the freezer needed it's own electrical outlet. But, so does the sump pump and the washing machine (both things are 1 thing plugged into a double outlet). So, I had to have an electrician wire a whole new outlet just for this freezer. Then, Best Buy customer service told my mom (who was doing some freezer research for me...thanks mom!) that the freezer weighs 183 lbs, but the website says it weighs 90 lbs. So, there's some added questions about how to get it to the house without paying an obscene amount for shipping and delivery. Thankfully, I have a great friend with some super helpful parents!
See...I told you it's been a fiasco. I'm tired just reading that recap. But, the moral of the story is that I'll have a whole new freezer before the day is done. Reorganizing my current disaster of a situation is another project for another day...like tomorrow.
But, all of this leads up to the fun part of the day...a Cinco de Mayo party! I plan to kick back, relax, have a margarita in one hand and today's sangria in the other.
So today, we're making Strawberry Coconut Sangria!
Kinda by accident, we've been using the same flavors all week. And, today's sangria follows suit. But, that's good news! Because, that means we're getting the full bang for our buck with all of the ingredients we've bought this week that we may not normally keep on hand.
Here's the game plan on today's cocktail. The best part of sangria is the boozy fruit, right? So, we're going to keep it simple and load up on sliced strawberries and sliced limes. Talk about mmm!
Wine is also another key player in sangria. Today, we're using pinot grigio. Now, I'm sure I've told you before that I'm not the biggest wine drinker, but I can only drink sweet wine when I do participate. Pinot grigio is less sweet, but that's ok. We're going to add some other sweet ingredients that will help to balance out the dry wine. If we used a sweet wine today, our sangria would be overly sweet which is not what we want. Plus, sweet cocktails give me a major headache (which is why I don't drink them often). Ain't nobody got time for that when you're trying to party.
To the wine and fruit, we add some frozen strawberry daiquiri concentrate, some lemon lime soda, and our secret ingredient...coconut rum! The coconut rum takes this drink to the next level. You wouldn't necessarily know it was there if I didn't tell you; but once you know it's there, it just kind of gently caresses your sip in the background. It's may favorite part of this drink!
This drink is also coming with me this evening along with Monday's margarita and Wednesday's guac. I can't wait! Is it party time yet?!?!
Just a reminder, here's all of the yummy things we've made this week!
Salsa Sunday: Strawberry Avocado Salsa
Margarita Monday: Pineapple Coconut Margaritas
Taco Tuesday: Blackened Grilled Salmon Tacos
“Wockamole” Wednesday: Quick Guacamole
Tostada Thursday: Roasted Shrimp Tostadas with Mango Coconut Salsa
Fajita Friday: Shrimp Fajita Bowls
You know I always have to say this when we have cocktail time, but please be safe out there if you're having some drinks this evening. Be smart, and drink responsibly!
Enjoy, cheers, and let's drink!
Strawberry Coconut Sangria
Serves: 6 Print
Ingredients:
1 bottle (750ml) pinot grigio
1 cup coconut rum
2 ½ cups lemon lime soda (I used Sprite)
½ cup frozen strawberry daiquiri concentrate, slightly thawed
6-8 strawberries, sliced
2 limes, sliced
Directions:
Add strawberry and lime slices to a pitcher. Pour in wine, rum, soda, and daiquiri concentrate. Stir well to combine. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe notes:
*I had some jumbo strawberries, so I only needed 6. If your strawberries are on the smaller side, use 8.
*You can find strawberry daiquiri concentrate in the freezer section of the grocery store where the frozen juices are.
*This recipe can be easily doubled for a bigger party pitcher!
*Instead of diluting this drink with ice, freeze some extra strawberry and lime slices before adding them to the drink to keep it nice and cool.
*The beauty of this sangria is that it's not cloyingly sweet. I purposely used a dryer wine because the soda and daiquiri concentrate are sweet enough on their own. Keep that in mind if you choose to use a sweeter wine.
*Please drink responsibly!
