Karen’s Suburban Mom Truth Serum Sangria

Image from delish.com

Our friends Jim and Karen, who you met before in the Dirty Martini recipe sure know how to throw a party. We recently went to their Christmas party where Karen was serving the best Sangria I’ve ever had. Her husband, Jim, calls it “Suburban Mom Truth Serum.”

All jokes aside, I loved the party and met another really cool suburban mom. I even had the confidence to ask for her number at the end of the night! Was it the Sangria? Had to be. So for those out there, like me, looking to make friends, here’s the ultimate recipe for connection. Thanks Karen for sending all the secret tricks to making Sangria that actually rocks.

For one bottle of red wine (Karen recommends Merlot or Cab, and it doesn’t need to be expensive)… Add:

• 1/2 cup of brandy

• 1/2 cup of oranige liquer (Karen uses Luxardo, but say Cointreau is also fine)

• Juice of 1/2 of fresh lemon

• 1 orange, sliced, slices floating

• 1 liter (to taste!) of lemon/lime soda (Sprite or Diet Sprite! Karen uses Diet Sprite and honestly, I think this is the way to go!)

• Splash of Pomegranate juice or a few spoonfuls of syrup from the Luxardo cherries

In addition to the truth serum recipe, Karen recommends making a big ice cube block out of sprite, blueberries, raspeberries and blackberries, so as it melts, you end up with more flavor instead of diluting.

For parties, plan to double, triple, or quadruple the recipe, and don’t forget to put a sign on the punch bowl warning moms that in it contains truth serum.

Enjoy!