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NON-ALCOHOLIC SANGRIA

Now before the mosquitoes get too ferocious and the air conditioners whir too loudly, is the perfect time to sit out on the porch, deck or patio with a tall cool drink. Ice water, lemonade, or ice tea will do, of course, but sometimes it’s fun to make a frothy concoction. Call it a slush, slurpy, ade, frosty, or punch, put it in a pretty glass and serve with pleasure. Summer is a great time to put fresh fruits to work for you. Pair them with ice cream, liquors or fruit juice concentrates for appealing thirst quenchers.

Garnishes are fun, too, and usually easy. For frosted glasses, simply dip the rim of each glass into water or lemon juice and then into sugar. Place glasses in the freezer briefly to frost. Consider frosting mugs for beer or any cold drink you’re serving. It adds a nice touch. For fresh fruit drinks, garnish with a strawberry on the rim of the glass or skewer maraschino cherries, pineapple chunks or orange wedges on a cocktail pick.

In less than a week we will be celebrating Independence Day or Fourth of July, always a great day in Reinbeck. It is a day of family celebrations with picnics and barbecues, showing a great deal of emphasis on the American tradition of political freedom. I’m glad our community still does the traditional fireworks, though I do have to admit there are impressive fireworks on television, but nothing can beat sitting in the park and actually hearing the sounds that go with it. Above all when the day is over I think all of us should give thanks for the freedom and liberties that we do have.

One of the summer drinks I enjoy in the summer is sangria, while most sangrias have wine in them, this one doesn’t.

NON-ALCOHOLIC SANGRIA

1 apple, peeled and thinly sliced

1 lemon juiced

1 orange, juiced

1 orange, sectioned

3/4 cup cranberry-grape juice

tiny pinch of ground cinnamon

3 cups seltzer water

In a medium pitcher, make the sangria mixer by adding the apple slices and lemon juice to the pitcher and stir. Add in the orange juice, orange sections, the cranberry-grape juice and the cinnamon. LET THE MIXTURE SIT

FOR AN HOUR, Really up to ten or twelve hours is the best, to allow flavors to meld. Just before serving add the seltzer to the pitcher

Serve in glasses filled with ice.

“Don’t forget to show our colors on the fourth, red, white and blue.”