Recipe for Fall Sangria

Our last Thursday Evening at Images we were sipping on some seriously delicious sangria.  Even if you are not a fan of sangria, this might change your mind.  It has an essence of fall - perfect for entertaining.  This recipe can comfortably quench the thirst of a small group, but it's good, so be prepared for your guests to have seconds or thirds.  Here's what you will need:

• 4 honeycrisp apples
• 2 un-oaked bottles of Chardonnay
• 1 cup of peach schnapps
• 1/2 cup of clover honey
• 4 oranges
• 2 lemons
• 2 limes
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• Small stub of fresh ginger, peeled and cut into 4 quarter-sized pieces
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 bottle of Prosecco (not brut) 

Core, peel and cube 2 of the apples.  Place the prepared apples into a large bowl and to it, add the two bottles of chardonnay, peach schnapps and honey.  Toss in 2 quartered oranges, lemons and limes along with the cinnamon sticks, ginger and cloves.  Let the ingredients marry overnight but if you are pressed for time, a minimum of 4 hours will suffice.

The following day (or hours later), strain the sangria into a pitcher.  Core, peel, cut up the remaining two apples and oranges and into the pitcher they go.  I place the cinnamon sticks back in as well if they are the nice, sturdy kind - it looks pretty :-)  The time has come to pop the prosecco and pour it into the pitcher......now my friends, you have one heck of a sangria.  Enjoy!

Adapted from NutmegNanny's Honeycrisp Apple Sangria

Thanksgiving is.....NEXT WEEK?!

It seems as if everywhere I go, people are just now realizing that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Are you ready?  If you said yes - you are doing much better that me!  Several things threw me for a loop this year:  1.  The weather.  90's to 60's in mid-November??? 2.  The election.  The priority of turkey vs. president.  Don't go there....it's not that kind of blog ;-)  3.  To me, there just wasn't the hoopla surrounding the "fall" festivities.  My opinion at least.    

So....family and friends come from near and far and you want to look your best.  Time isn't your friend right now.  You have a million things to do.  Start the grocery list that you can get to ahead of time, menu planning, getting the house ready, you may have started holiday shopping and if you are brave you might attempt a Costco run this or next week.  As you are tending to your family, home, and pretty much everyone else, do yourself a favor and take a minute to see what you might need.  Maybe a trim?  Do your roots need to be touched up?  A pedicure just because you deserve it.  Now here's the fun part!  Come make that appointment this Thursday and we will be watching Pretty Woman, sipping on Sangria and snacking on Tapas.  Best part is that it's from 5pm-8pm.  We are offering extended hours on Thursday nights and we have a different chick flick every week with drinks and snacks.  Last week was our first Thursday Evening at Images and it was a blast.  Tell your friends - better yet, bring a friend and we will see you Thursday!  ***A donation of 2 canned or boxed food items will get you $5 off your service.  Valid Thursday Night Only.***