Tuesday To-Do #43: A Toast to Finishes and Holiday Sangria

A very warm holiday hello to you all!
Really.  A too-warm hello.  Bah humbug

on this horrible, unseasonably warm weather.

At least it's fun for golf.

Maybe I should try some outdoor sewing

like I did in late spring last year?

Amazingly, it's again time to join in

--one last time [for me] this year!--

to Texas Quilt Gal's Tuesday To-Do Link-Up!

I have finishes to share!

Hudson Valley Palisades is quilted!

I'd still like to get the binding on it by Christmas

but with no deadline, I'm not going to push.

And next, my grandson's quilt is completed!

J's Construction Crew

I made matching pillowcases for both quilts.

These, along with ALL the other gifts, are wrapped and

under the tree!   Christmas miracles abound!

And lastly, I want to share a great sangria recipe that's a

 little miraculous--I finally found one that I really like!

In fact, my whole family likes it so you could say

7 out of 7 people gave it thumbs up.  Maybe I can save

someone else out there all the trouble and waste I've

gone to in researching sangria recipes.

And I'll also save you the humbling I received

by telling you a little story:

Hubs and I feel like we know at least a little about wine.

Well, hubs does; I tend to forget most of what I learn

these days.  If you put my fabric shopping up against

his wine shopping, he might even beat me--ha!

Anyhoo, in I walked to our favorite store and set about

looking for "Lambrusco" in what I thought were good

spots until I finally gave up and asked.

You know what it is?  

Riunite.  Plain ol' Riunite.

(Thank you, Food&Wine mag for making me look clueless

 because you were too snooty to just write "Riunite".)

And now, every time I write or say Lambrusco, it's with

a fake, snooty flair...and then I laugh.  But all that aside,

when you're at the store, buy two.  You'll want to double it

and if you're going to be embarrassed, it's best to get it

over with all in one shot, right?  <wink>

We polished one batch off before dinner was even over.

Notes:

~I found persimmons at Trader Joe's.

~Use POM brand pomegranate juice.  It's pricey but it

makes all the difference.  (Trader Joe's doesn't cut it.)

~Unless it's a whiskey/bourbon, I do not like ice

watering down my drink so I omitted it.

Just chill everything and you're good to go.

~I failed to buy pears the first time so I used apples.

It was still super yummy.

~No sewing recommended after that second glass!

Sparkling Citrus-Pomegranate Sangria

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c water

Pinch of fine sea salt

3 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

3 c 100% pomegranate  juice (ie, POM)

3/4 c brandy

1 small Anjou pear, cored & thinly sliced

1 small orange, cut into 1/4" slices and quartered

1 small lime, cut cross-wise into 1/4" slices

1/2 c pomegranate arils

1 (750ml) bottle Lambrusco, divided

Combine sugar, 1/2 c water, cinnamon sticks, sea salt

in a small pan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring

occasionally, until the cinnamon is infused--about 5 mins.

Remove from heat and let mixture steep as it cools, about

1 hour.  Remove and discard cinnamon sticks.

Whisk together pomegranate juice, brandy, and 1/4 c

cinnamon syrup in a large pitcher.  Stir in pear, persimmon,

orange, lime, and pomegranate arils.  Chill until flavors

combine--at least 4 hours and up to 12 hours.

Stir about 2 1/2 c Lambrusco <snort> into chilled

pomegranate juice mixture.  Divide sangria with fruit

evenly among [opt ice-filled] glasses. Top each with

about 1 tablespoon of remaining Lambrusco.

Serve immediately.

Sláinte!  Salut!  Prost!  Cheers!

A couple housekeeping notes:

I've been doing my best to keep up on all you to-do'ers!

I just haven't had time for much commenting but

I'm hoping this changes after the holidays.

Also, I do reply to every comment to my posts;

if you do not receive a reply, it's likely you

are a no-reply blogger.  I would love to visit

if you are up for changing that!

Merry Christmas and happy quilting!

See ya next year!