How to Make a Delicious Berry Red Sangria Recipe

If you prefer, you can easily turn this drink into a mocktail.  Simply swap out the alcohol for ginger ale, flavored seltzer water or fruit juice for a bubbly and family-friendly substitute. We also love this sangria recipe made with watermelon and cucumber!

Don’t be afraid to play with the liquid ratios, this is an easy drink to customize with different amounts or types of alcohol, or even using different fruits completely!  This sangria will be a crowd pleaser that never gets old with all of the possible tweaks.

Berry Red Sangria Recipe

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Berry Red Sangria Ingredients:

1 bottle of your favorite dry white wine or red wine

1 cup light rum

1-2 cups real pomegranate or cranberry juice (to taste)

1-2 cups orange juice (to taste)

2 cups ginger ale

1 cup sliced strawberries and/or watermelon

½ cup blueberries

Sangria Directions:

1.  Using an ice cube tray, fill each section halfway with water and add blueberries to each cube.  Place in the freezer until solid.

2. In a large pitcher, combine the white wine, rum, and fruit juices.  Feel free to adjust the ratios to your preference.  Add the sliced fruit and chill the pitcher in the freezer for at least 2 hours so the fruit can infuse the sangria.

3. For serving once the ice cubes are solid and the sangria is chilled, add the ginger ale just before pouring to keep it bubbly.  Then pour the sangria into glasses and add the blueberry ice cubes.  Garnish with a sliced strawberry and sip away!  Refrigerate any leftovers… and enjoy on another occasion.

For more drinks and cocktails for your party, take a look through our archives on Stagetecture.

Memorial Day Appetizer: Grilled Potato Skins

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Total time: 25-30 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 baking potatoes – white or sweet potatoes

2 tablespoon melted butter

½ teaspoon dried rosemary

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 chopped, green onions

Sour cream

Directions:

1. Cut potatoes into 4 wedges. Hollow out the center of each wedge. Microwave potatoes, uncovered, on high for 6-8 minutes or until tender.

2. In a small bowl, combine rosemary, butter, salt, and pepper. Remove potatoes from microwave and brush over both sides of potato.

3. Put potatoes with skin-side up on the grill rack. Grill for 2-3 minutes, turn and grill again. Add cheese to potato wedges and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

4. Top off with bacon and onion. Serve with sour cream.

Just about everyone will love this delicious Memorial Day appetizer. You can also substitute low-fat cheese or add broccoli and other vegetables for a healthier option.

For more easy appetizers on Stagetecture, click here.

Take a look at 23 of our favorite patriotic desserts:

1. Patriotic Desserts: Summer Berries Popsicles

See this yummy popsicle recipe here.

Image via: HGTV

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2. Fourth of July Dessert: American Flag Cake

4th of July Cake Ingredients:

Cake:

6 large eggs
3 cups of sugar
18 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 cup of sour cream
3 cups of flour
1 ½ teaspoons of  pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
⅓ cup cornstarch
1 ½ pounds of cream cheese
1 pound of unsalted butter
1 ½ teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
1 pound of confectioners’ sugar (sifted)
3 half-pints of raspberries
2 half-pints of blueberries

Icing:

1 ½ pounds of cream cheese
1 pound of unsalted butter
1 ½ teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
1 pound of confectioners’ sugar (sifted)

Flag decorations

3 half-pints of raspberries
2 half-pints of blueberries

Patriotic Desserts Cake Directions:

Cake:

1)      Heat oven to 375ᵒ F or 350ᵒ F if you’re using a nonstick pan. Butter and flour a rectangular pan. Mix the butter and sugar in an electric mixer and turn the paddle attachment to high speed. Once the mixture is fluffy, turn the mixer to medium speed and add the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Stir the mixture until it is smooth.

2)      Sift the flour, salt, baking soda, and cornstarch in a bowl. Turn the mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture. Combine the mixture well.

3)      Pour the mixture into your rectangular pan and smoothen the top. Bake for 20 – 30 minutes and test with a toothpick. Remove the cake when the toothpick comes out clean.

Icing

Mix the sugar, butter, vanilla, and cream cheese in an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth.

How to Decorate your Patriotic Cake:

1. Spread ¾ of the icing on the top side of the cake. Draw a sketch of the flag on top using a toothpick. Add blueberries to the upper-left corner and make red rows with the raspberries. Leave some space between the rows.
2. Put the leftover icing in a pastry bag and make white rows between the red stripes. Pipe white stars over the blueberries.

This American flag cake is a perfect Fourth of July dessert to bring to a picnic, bbq or to serve as a centerpiece at your family gathering. It is tasty and beautifully shows off your patriotic side. Make it for your guests and see if they won’t be asking you for the recipe.

3. Patriotic Berry Pie Recipe

Try this yummy patriotic berry pie recipe here.

20 Blogger Friends share their favorite patriotic dessert recipes:

1. Red, White And Blue No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits
2. Strawberry Blueberry Cloud Cake
3. Skinny Ice Cream Sandwiches
4. White Chocolate Berry Parfaits
5. Coconut Water And Fresh Berry Popsicles For 4th Of July
6. Berries & Cream Tart With Cookie Crust
7. Berry Patriotic Poke Cake
8. Patriotic Dipped Oreo Cookies
9. Brownie Flag Recipe
10. Try These Easy Patriotic Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
11. Patriotic Layered Jello Dessert
12. Patriotic Parfait
13. 4th Of July Ice Cream Cone Cookies
14. Patriotic Red White And Blue Pastries
15. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flag Dip
16. Fireworks Sugar Cookie Cake
17. How To Make Mini Cheesecakes (video)
18. 4th Of July Berry Dessert Pizza
19. American Cheesecake Popsicles
20. Red, White And Blue Oreo Cookie Pops

Do you love Grilled Fruit Recipes?

Take a look at our Strawberry Shortcake Grilled Fruit Kabobs recipe here.

For more Patriotic Dessert Recipes ideas, click here.

How to Make Our Healthiest Summer Recipes

The best healthy pork chop recipe

Especially on week days most of us are not only looking for a healthy meal, but for one that can be prepared quickly, too. This wonderful Southern breaded pork chop recipe is exactly that. Yummy, easy to put together and only a few ingredients will make this recipe your summer week day favorite go to recipe for you and your whole family. Serve the pork chops with a fresh green salad to round up the dish and add even more nutrients to it.

Yummy grilled shrimp and quinoa salad recipe

Salads always are a great dinner solution for summer, with their freshness and flavor. This grilled shrimp and quinoa salad recipe is perfect for a warm summer night dinner, full of nutrients and goodness. You can easily substitute the shrimps with grilled chicken if you prefer meat over seafood or just to have a nice alternative when you don’t have shrimps at home one evening.

Grilled fish steak recipe

Fish is a summer favorite, since it is light and healthy. On top of that it is quickly prepared and you will have a wonderful dinner ready in no-time. Just grab a few pieces of your favorite fish steaks and grill them according to the grilled fish steaks recipe, add a wonderful fresh garnish and you are good to go.

These Stagetecture favorite healthy dinner recipes are perfect for a tasty dinner after a busy day or for serving on a warm summer evening while relaxing. Martha Stewart has a wonderful collection for grilled summer recipes that you could also try and which will help you going through summer eating healthy and yummy at the same time. Serving some of these meals with some cold, refreshing beverages will take them to another level and don’t forget to invite some friends over to turn a routine dinner into a spontaneous entertaining summer evening.

For more healthy recipe ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Can it be any hotter? I don’t know about where you are located, but here in Jacksonville, Florida we are already in the mid 90’s with 80% humidity… we need summer fresh fruit recipes continuously. HA HA! Fortunately Florida is known for its fresh fruit that taste like they’re straight from the local farmers market. A few weeks ago I introduced you to Fresh From Florida ‘s summer fruits and vegetables that are perfect for family meals, bbq, and entertaining events. I’m excited to pair with them again to make a delicious and quenching Watermelon Fizz recipe from the Fresh From Florida website. Every summer watermelon is a staple fruit around our house and I enjoyed finding a new way to use Florida watermelons in a delicious drink.

Florida Watermelon Fizz Recipe

All Images via: ©Stagetecture.com

Makes 4 servings

Watermelon Fizz Ingredients:

5 cups Florida watermelon – seed and cubed

2 cups sparkling water – I found a lemon flavored one!

Florida honey to sweeten as you’d like

1 lemon – juiced and seeds removed

Fresh mint sprigs for garnish or you can add a few to the blender

Fresh Fruit Drink Directions:

1. In a blender combine cubed watermelon, honey and lemon juice. Liquefy and blend the mixture until smooth.

2. Pour watermelon mixture through a fine sieve to strain. (I accidentally used to large of holes sieve and some of my mixture went right through! – use a small holed sieve.

3. Fill 4 glasses with ice. If you’re planning a party I think pretty sugar crystals around the rim would be a nice touch. In a small plate use a small amount of lemon juice and dip the rim in juice, and then a plate of fine colored sugar crystals to make the crystals stick.

4. Pour the strained juice over the ice in all 4 glasses.

5. Pour the sparkling water over the juice and stir once.

6. Garnish with fresh mint and serve.

More Farm Fresh Recipes Using Watermelon:

Now that you see what a delicious watermelon recipe I made, what watermelon recipes from the Fresh From Florida website will you try? Here are more watermelon recipes we think you’ll love:

• Florida Watermelon Salad with Blueberries
• Florida Watermelon Slices with Balsamic Syrup Mint Oil and Feta Cheese

We’d love to hear how you plan on incorporating Fresh From Florida produce into your summer recipes. We have a link to two yummy recipes in our previous Fresh From Florida Recipes post here.

Healthy Summer Recipe – Chicken Yakitori

Image via: Van Eerden Foodservice Company 

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Ingredients

3 cups of sake

3 pounds of chicken thighs (skinless and boneless, cut into small pieces)

1 piece of fresh ginger (4 inches)

¾ cups of mirin

2 bunches of scallions chopped into 1-inch pieces

Vegetable oil (for brushing)

½ cup of sugar (light brown)

1 cup of soy sauce

1½ cups of water

¼ cup of bonito flakes (flakes made from smoked bonito or tuna)

¼ cup of kombu (dried seaweed), cut into small pieces

Directions

1. Put the water and kombu in a saucepan and heat them until they boil. Add the bonito and leave to boil.
2. Take away the pan from the heat and leave to cool for 3 minutes.
3. Strain the broth into a big saucepan. Add the mirin, sake, sugar, and soy sauce to the broth and simmer over high heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture thickens (for about 45 minutes).
4. Soak 16 skewers in water for 20 minutes and drain the water. Put the chicken and scallions on the skewers alternately.
5. Set a small strainer over a bowl and grate the ginger finely. Press the ginger to make juice. You should have approximately 2 tbsp.
6. Brush the skewers with oil and place them on a grill. Grill over moderate heat and keep on turning them until they are cooked (for about 10 minutes).
7. Brush the skewers with the soy glaze and ginger juice before removing them from the grill.
8. Serve with the glaze for dipping.

Image via: Condo Spalillos

For a great outcome, follow the instructions to the latter. If you don’t feel like going outdoors to grill the skewers, you can cook them on a broiler oven. Serve them with peanut noodles for lunch or dinner.

Do you like this healthy summer recipe?

Healthy Summer Lunch – Seafood Salad Recipe

Image via: My Recipes

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Ingredients

Juice from 1 lemon

Freshly ground pepper

Kosher salt

Baby carrots (8 ounces, halved lengthwise)

2 cups of croutons

1 tbsp of light mayonnaise

1tbsp of capers and 1tbsp of brine taken from the jar

3 stalks of celery (2 thinly sliced and 1 quartered)

¾ pound of shrimp (peeled and deveined)

3 cloves of garlic (2 crushed and 1 chopped)

1 small avocado (pitted and peeled)

2 lettuce hearts (torn)

½ pound of sea scallops (halved horizontally)

Instructions

1. Mix the crushed garlic, celery, half of the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and 10 cups of water in a big saucepan. Cover and leave to boil.
2. When the mixture boils, uncover it and add the carrots. Cook for two minutes.
3. Add the shrimp and cook until it becomes dense (for about 4 minutes).
4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp and carrots to a colander. Rinse them under cold water.
5. Boil the initial mixture again and add the scallops. Cook until opaque (for about 1-2 minutes). Use the slotted spoon to remove the scallops. Put them in the colander and rinse with cold water.
6. Scoop out some of the poaching liquid (1/3 cup) and set aside to cool. Chop half of the avocado and mix with the lettuce, sliced celery, croutons, and capers in a bowl. Add the scallops, shrimp, and carrots.
7. Squash the remaining avocado in a blender and add the remaining lemon juice, caper brine, mayonnaise, chopped garlic, pepper, ½ tsp of salt, and reserved poaching liquid. Mix with the salad and season with pepper and salt.

Image via: Living Fresh

The oceans of the world provide a never-ending supply of seafood that can be cooked in a million ways. If you’ve always shied away from cooking seafood, you’ll change your mind after making this salad. The best part is that you don’t have to be an expert to make it. If you live a busy lifestyle, you’ll be thankful for this healthy summer recipe. For the best results, chill the salad before eating it.

What’s your favorite healthy summer food recipes?

Summer Brunch: Peach Coffee Cake

Image Via: A Kitchen Addiction

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Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

For Coffee Cake:

½ cup butter + 1 tablespoon, divided

1 cup + 2 tablespoons white sugar, divided

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 eggs

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons cinnamon

For Peach Layer:

4 ripe peaches, peeled, sliced, and pitted

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons brown sugar

For Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

¼ cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Image Via: Little B Cooks

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and heat a skillet to medium.
2. Prep the peaches by melting 3 tablespoons of butter in the pan, stirring occasionally until it darkens into a golden brown color. Dissolve the brown sugar into the butter and turn off the heat. Toss the peaches in the brown butter and set them aside to cool.
3. Start the cake batter by beating together a ½ cup butter and 2 cups of sugar in your mixer.
4. When the butter takes on a pale yellow color, add in your eggs, one at a time, the sour cream, and the vanilla extract.
5. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix together your dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt.
6. With your mixer on its lowest setting, gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet and let mix until a cohesive batter forms.
7. In a small bowl, combine the remaining butter and white sugar with the brown sugar and cinnamon to create the crumble topping. Use your hands to bring the ingredients together into small chunks.
8. Assemble the cake by pouring the batter into a greased 9-inch springform pan. Top the batter with the peach mixture and then the crumble topping.
9. Loosely tent the cake in aluminum foil to prevent excessive browining and transfer it into the oven. Bake it for 40-50 minutes or until the center is completely set.
10. While the cake bakes, make the glaze by whisking the confectioners sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and glossy. Set aside.
11. When the cake is finished allow it to cool on a wire rack before drizzling with the glaze. Serve at room temperature or just slightly warm.

This peach coffee cake is so special that it seems ready-made for an occasion like a leisurely summer brunch. But, that’s not all it can do. Create an over-the-top sundae by combing cubes of it with vanilla ice cream and a warm crème anglaise. You could also incorporate leftovers into a decadent bread pudding. One thing’s for sure, however you serve it, this recipe offers the best flavors of summer.

How do you like to enjoy your summer peaches? Share your favorite recipes with us!

For more great brunch recipes, check out Stagetecture’s archives.

Summer Favorite: Baja Fish Tacos

Image via: The Daily Meal

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Ingredients

• 12 corn tortillas
• 1¼ pounds of fish fillet chopped into small pieces (cod, catfish, tilapia, or halibut)
• 1½ cups of thinly sliced red cabbage
• ½ cup of fresh salsa
• Vegetable oil
• ½ cup of mayonnaise
• ½ cup of roughly chopped cilantro (fresh)
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• ½ tsp of chili powder
• 2 tbsp of honey (or agave nectar)
• 1 Hass avocado
• ¾ cup of all-purpose flour
• Juice from one lime
• Lime wedges for serving

Preparation

1)      Heat approximately 3 inches of vegetable oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat until it gets hot.

2)      Mix the honey, lime juice, cabbage, mayonnaise, and cilantro in a bowl. Add salt for taste.

3)      Use a skillet to warm the tortillas or wrap them in a damp cloth and microwave them for 25 seconds.  Cover them with a towel to maintain warmth.

4)      In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, salt, chili powder, and pepper. Sprinkle the mixture on the fish. Fry the fish in batches until it’s golden and cooked through (approximately 2 to 3 minutes). Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel. Add salt for flavor.

5)      Peel the avocado and slice it into small pieces. Put the pieces in the tortillas together with the fish, salsa, and slaw.

6)      Serve the tortillas with the lime wedges.

Image via: Food Network

If you love Mexican dishes, you’ll love this summer dinner recipe. It is packed with flavors and will be an instant hit with your whole family. It is not only easy to make, it can be quickly put together by amateur cooks. Be sure to make many tacos because your family may ask for seconds. Additionally, your friends will ask you for the recipe as soon as they taste your mouthwatering tacos.

If you’ve made fish tacos tell us what favorite toppings you like to add?

For more easy recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Summer Dessert: Triple-Crust Ripe Peach Cobbler

Image via: Southern Living

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Ingredients

3 packets of pie crust mix

1½ cups of sugar

1 cup of cold water

2 tsp of vanilla

2 tsp of crushed nutmeg

2 tsp of crushed cinnamon

2 tsp of lemon extract

2 cans of sliced peaches in syrup (undrained)

¾ cup of margarine or butter (melted)

Procedure

1. Heat your oven to 350ᵒF. Mix 1 packet of pie crust and ⅓ of the water in a bowl until the combination forms a ball. Roll out the ball into a rectangle and cut it into 4 even strips. Place the strips on a cookie sheet that is ungreased and bake for 18 minutes. Remove and set aside.

2. Mix the second packet of pie crust with ⅓ of the water. The mixture will form a ball after a while. Flatten it and roll it to fit the base and sides of a rectangular baking dish. Don’t grease the dish, just place the crust and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix the butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, peaches, vanilla, and lemon extract. Pour half of the mixture in the baking dish. Place the four pastry strips on top and pour the remaining mixture.

4. Mix the last packet of pie crust with the remaining water until the mixture becomes round. Flatten it and roll it to fit the top part of the baking dish. Make several slits on the crust and place it on top of the mixture in the baking dish. Seal the edges of the dish.

5. Bake the mixture for an hour or till the crust turns golden brown.

Image via: Betty Crocker

Peach cobbler is always a favorite during the holidays. It makes people recall family gatherings and is one of the best comfort foods. It is easy to make and is the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Try making it for your loved ones this summer. Even on full stomachs, they won’t be able to turn it down.

Do you think your family and friends will enjoy this delicious summer dessert?