I hope you guys enjoyed all the guest posts last week. I am so grateful to have such good friends willing to offer up their hard work to fill in. That’s really what life is about, isn’t it? Good friends, there for you during the tough times.
One thing about going home to San Antonio in late July that I should have been prepared for, was just how dang hot it is! I haven’t been home in late July since probably 2004, and I think I just plumb forgot the deep, dark heat that wafts its way through the city at that time of year.
As only a foodie will understand, I threw the best darn party/wake/remembrance for my Nanny that you can imagine. It was just like a party she would have thrown when she was alive – full bellies, lots of laughter, music, and because Nan never turned down a good cocktail – drinking.
It really helped to dive into all that hands-on work, and especially so in her kitchen. When you’ve got the ugly green bowl she’s used since before you were born in your hands, full of party dip to be mixed, suddenly things come into perspective.
To quote the poem the pastor read to us at the graveside, “You can remember her and only that she’s gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.”
Well guys, that’s what I’m going to do. And Nan would definitely approve of this Sangria. She adored plums in any fashion. A few weeks ago, James and I were at the farmers market, and my favorite farmer says to me, “Would you like my last pint of sugar plums? They’re super sweet,” something inspired me to say yes. I don’t normally gravitate toward plums, though I always enjoy them.
Then started a search for “sugar plum” recipes, which only resulted in cookie recipes. I was so confused! Luckily, I know that crazy smart foodie over at Good.Food.Stories. Casey to the rescue, she asked a few friends, and we realized that they were in fact, baby plums.
During that trip I had also purchased peaches to make Amanda’s Peach Bread, and a pint of organically grown strawberries that were the sweetest I’ve tasted yet outside of Poteet. Of course, ever over enthusiastic, especially when it comes to peaches, I’d bought way more than Amanda’s peach bread called for.
I decided I should use the peaches and plums together. And wouldn’t it be rude not to invite strawberries to the party?
The wonderful thing about Sangria is you can add any sort of fruit you’d like to it, especially white wine sangria. We also added limes, a little ginger beer, and a bit of Pimm’s to liven things up. If you can’t find Pimm’s, it can be left out.
Please excuse the butter and spare corn in this shot! Post barbecue, I was full of good food and good sangria, and for some reason, thought it was arty!
Peach, Strawberry & Baby Plum Sangria
Ingredients
1 bottle of sweet white wine (we used a riesling)
2 oz Pimm’s No. 1 (2 shots)
1 liter of carbonated water or lemon-lime soda
1 can of ginger beer
Sliced peaches, baby plums, strawberries, and limes or lemons
Directions
In a large pitcher, add as much or as little sliced fruit as you desire. Baby plums can be pitted similar to cherries. You can also substitute full size plums if you cannot find baby plums. Zest any citrus you add before slicing and adding it to the pitcher.
Add 2-4 handfuls of ice to the pitcher, then add the wine and Pimm’s. Stir with a large spoon to combine, then add the carbonated water or soda, and ginger beer. Stir gently to combine (but not destroy carbonation) and then serve.
If you’d like to make this an hour or two before serving to give the fruit more time to develop, do not add the ice until just before serving, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Enjoy with the people you love most. And tell them so.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Yum! This sounds perfect!
Katrina, it was great with some perfectly cooked steaks and grilled corn on the cob.
Lovely drink and yet another tribute to your beloved Nan. Cheers to her!
Thanks, Barb. I think you’d love this sangria.
I have been dying to make my own Sangria since summer started, and I am practically giddy looking at this recipe! I can’t wait to try it, and I also wanted to say that it’s such a lovely, lively drink – a wonderful way to cherish your Nan!
We’ll have it this weekend :)
You had me at baby plum :)
Glad you’re back safe and had a good visit. Sorry again for you loss. Just keep Nan on your mind while you’re cooking and while you’re writing and you will be comforted. The reason I write so much about my grandparents is because I miss them so much. Writing about them and reliving the memories are a great source of comfort for me.
I can imagine the heat of SA slapped you in the face! That’s how I feel when I fly home, too!
What’s really funny about the heat, Tina, is that it was hotter in NJ while we were gone! 97 in San Antonio, 108 in Newark.
That sounds just perfect for the Texas heat. Cheers to your Nan! :)
Thanks, Bridget! We were in Houston for what was possibly the shortest layover ever.. but I did think of you and wish we could hang out!
This is a perfect drink to enjoy with those you love. I love the idea of plums, strawberries and peaches together. Glad you made it home safely. I understand forgetting that southern heat. We visited Arkansas this summer and I swear I’ve never sweated so much in my life! Made me appreciate home in Wyoming a little more!
Thanks, Miss x
Have to try this sounds delicious!
Thanks, Erin! We really enjoyed it.
Were they called baby plums or cherry plums? I can’t remember now. Regardless of what they were called, I wholeheartedly agree that they’d be awesome with Pimm’s.
Oh Casey, I think they’re both. Who knows! The darn farmer called them sugar plums, so who could really say. ;)
They were definitely awesome with Pimm’s.
I love the butter and corn in the shot!
My mom makes a few cookies every Christmas that are her mom’s recipes and her, my uncles and grandfather always sit around and share stories about my grandmother making them.
Haha, thanks Rene. Isn’t it wonderful to hear stories of the past? I learned this past week that my grandmother was an excellent singer when she was young. I never knew that. It’s so wonderful to pick up tidbits of the people who built us, isn’t it?
I found out a couple years ago that my dad’s mom was a opera singer once-upon-a-time. Totally weird! Too bad I didn’t get any of that talent. Cats cover their ears when I sing :P
i am smiling as i read this dear Amber – your Nan was a good woman, who raised good kids and even gooder (hah!) grandkids – she is smiling on you Amber . . . carry on girl, you’re doing fine!
Thanks, Deb. That means a ton. We’ll miss you this weekend. You and The Professor both. <3
This is just beautiful! What a beautiful quote from the pastor . I am so proud of you for celebrating her life.
Thanks, Jamie. It really was a lovely poem. I’ll share the whole thing on here someday.
So glad you were able to celebrate your Nan’s life with your family and that you continue to honor her memory through your blog. Your strength is inspiring.
Thank you, Sylvie. It was important to me to throw a big ol’ party, because that’s exactly what she would have wanted – for us to celebrate the life she led, and that she and my grandfather are finally reunited.
Sangria is one of my favorites! This looks amazing, and it sounds like it was the perfect way to celebrate your Nan! Can’t wait to give this recipe a try… Darron is a fan of Reisling, so I know he’d enjoy it, too.
Thanks, Jen! I think Darron would LOVE it.
I love a good sangria, and I love the line from that poem. Can’t wait to hug you in just three more days!
Me too me too me too!!
How refreshing and full of lovely colors this Sangria has! Yes I am gonna make for my loved ones and will say the same too :)
Thanks so much, Sanjeeta. Let me know how you like it!
Yum! This looks like a perfect summer drink!
Thank you, Rachel. It’s really refreshing and the perfect use of produce that might be slightly “past its prime” but plenty juicy.
I think after the weeks you’ve had, you deserve the whole pitcher!
Gorgeous pictures, my friend. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
Thanks, Kristen. I definitely did enjoy a few well deserved cocktails last week. Nothing like a little self medication to help along the grieving process, right? Love ya!
Think I will make this for our party at the weekend, this looks delish.
That’s so kind, Michelle! Let me know how everyone likes it.
Isn’t wonderful to have food memories. As I was shucking corn yesterday I thought back to my late grandfather’s farm and eating corn straight off the cob during harvest. It was so sweet and delicious.
Its nice to have those tiny flashes of the past to relive those special moments with the ones no longer with us.
Here’s to you and your Nan.
I love that story, Melissa. Thank you so much.
looks utterly delicious…yummm
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Tasty Appetite
Thanks, Jay! I will!
Yes! I guess all Nanny’s approve of cocktail hour! I approve of the arty shot. It’s not just a pretty picture, but a memory, and those are the best pics of all!
So here’s to Nanny’s and smiling at the good times. For always loving the ladies who would buy the eight-hundred dollar dishwasher, because it’s “said to be able to wash a car if it could” only to wash every dish before putting it in there!
Gorgeous sangria, my friend! Off to SA this weekend. I’ll be thinking of you! Tell us where to EAT!
This was my first experience with Pimms. At the liquor store everyone was quite surprised to hear I was making sangria with Pimms but to my benefit this was an amazing recipe! I added apples and soaked the fruit over night! Scrumptious on a hot nashville day!