Mexican Specialty Drinks

Sangria

This refreshing blend of wine and fruit juices
was a gift from Spain to the New World.

Traditional Sangria
4 cups dry red wine
4 cups mineral water
3/4 cup grenadine
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 orange, thinly sliced
1/2 cup peeled and chopped pineapple

In a glass pitcher,
mix the wine, water, grenadine and lime juice.
Stir well.
Add the orange and pineapple.
Chill well.
Before serving add ice cubes

Rosy Sangria
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
3 lemon slices
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
4 blackberry or cranberry herbal tea bags
1 btl.(750 ml.) White Zinfandel
2 to 4 tablespoons Brandy
1/2 pint strawberries (trimmed)
1/4 lb. sweet pitted cherries
1 orange cut into slices
1 cup club soda

Combine water, sugar, lemon, cloves and
cinnamon stick in small saucepan.
Bring to simmering; simmer 10 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Add tea bags; let seep 5 minutes.
Remove solids and discard.
Refrigerate tea mixture to chill.
Stir together tea mixture,
wine and brandy in a large pitcher.
Add strawberries, cherries and orange.
Refrigerate, covered.
Just before serving stir in club soda.
Serve in chilled glasses,
spoon some of the fruit with the wine.

Sangria Bloody Mary

2 cans tomato juice,
each 1 quart 14 ounces,chilled
2 & 2/3 cups fresh orange juice
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 & 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 cups Vodka

In a large pitcher stir together all
the ingredients except Vodka.
Juice mixture may be made 3 hours
ahead and chilled,covered.
Mix by adding vodka in glasses over ice
and top with juice mixture.

Sunrise Punch

Combine frozen juices in a large pitcher.
Stir in water.
Add the tequila, ginger ale and the grenadine.
Add ice and stir.

Michilata

Some people think a Michilata
is just a glass with
a salted rim and lime juice poured over ice.
Here is the real thing!

1 whole lime
1/2 lemon
4 dashes Tabasco
1 dash salt
1 dash Lawry's seasoned salt
2 pinches pepper
1 dash Worcestershire
Tomato juice
Tecate ( or other Mexican beer )

In a chilled pilsner glass with a salted rim,
squeeze in juice from lime and lemon.
Add Tabasco, salts, pepper, and Worcestershire ,
and then fill glass 1/4 full with tomato juice.
Fill the rest of the glass with Tecate
or other Mexican beer.
Garnish with lime wheel or wedge.

Sangrita

Sangrita is a spicy-sweet chaser for tequila.
Whenever tequila is served in Mexico,
it will usually be served in small narrow glasses
accompanied by sangrita in a similar glass.

2 chiles anchos, toasted, stems and seeds removed
2 tablespoons finely chopped onions
2 cups orange juice
juice of one small lime
salt

Soak the chiles in hot water to cover
for 20 minutes and drain.
(it is a good idea to use gloves
when peeling and de-seeding chiles)
In a blender, puree the chiles
with the onion, orange juice, lime juice and salt
(to taste)
until thoroughly blended.
If the mixture is too thick,
add more lime and orange juice.