My first try at making a fancy(ish) alcoholic beverage

The high in Minnesota today is about 80 degrees. IN APRIL. For those of you who choose to live in warmer climes, this is highly unusual. There are crazy people coming out of the woodwork to bike, walk, run and just spend time in the sun. It's glorious. I'm a little scared to break out the shorts; these white legs didn't even get tan LAST summer, much less seen light in the last 5+ months.

So because of this lovely weather, I felt a need to have a drink. Normally my go-to is white wine, but I wanted something fruity and cool that didn't require too much work. Then an idea hit me: Sangria. That way I could have my wine and still get the fruity buzz I was looking for. This recipe is great for a refreshing drink that doesn't take a professional bartender. It is one of my favorites, especially since it tastes good even if you change up the ingredients for a more or less alcoholic version. I shall share both recipes with you, and you can decide which suits your mood. A note: These are large-scale recipes, for a pitcher.

Lime Berry Sangria

What you need for both:
White wine (Moscato or white zin)
Ginger ale
2 limes
Blackberries
Raspberries

For the more alcoholic version:
Sparkling wine or champagne
Peach schnapps

For an extra kick:
Mint leaves
Strawberries
Orange slices

How to make it:
Wash all the fruit thoroughly, and slice one of the limes thin. Leave the peels on for color and enhanced flavor. Add the fruit to your pitcher. Pour in wine and ginger ale (and the other liquid ingredients). Keep in mind, if you're making the more alcoholic version of this recipe, you will want to consider how much alcohol you're adding, for taste purposes. Always remember to taste anything you're making as you make it. Halve the remaining lime and squeeze the juice into your liquid ingredients.  Stir everything together, and refrigerate for 1-3 hours before serving. I don't like to serve anything over ice, but feel free to have your sangria on the rocks!

Gameday apps - Part 1

Spring is here, and before you know it, summer will be upon us! With baseball season kicking off and summer sports in our minds, I'd like to share some of my favorite foods to eat - whether you're playing a sport or cheering your team on. Keep in mind, I'm not exactly a light eater, so this is a series of heavier appetizers that are sure to make your guests' mouths water.

So let's start it off! Gameday apps,  part 1: Lemon garlic wings

What you need:
(Feeds 5)

2 lbs. chicken wings (A large pack at the grocery store)
5 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
1/4 c. fresh oregano, chopped
1 c. lemon juice
1-2 tbsp. pepper (to taste)
1 tbsp. salt (to taste)
1/4 c. olive oil

Preparation:
Place raw wings in a large ziplock bag or shallow pan. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients then pour them over the chicken. Seal the bag and shake, or spoon the sauce over the wings, making sure they're all coated. Refrigerate one hour, or as long as overnight. Turn the wings several times as the chicken marinates.

How to grill them:
Heat the grill to medium. Remove the chicken from the bag or pan and discard the extra marinade. Grill until cooked through, about six minutes per side.

How to bake them:
Heat the oven to 375. Cover a baking sheet with tin foil and grease with cooking spray - you don't want this stuff to stick. Place wings on baking sheet and set extra marinade aside. Cook for 30 minutes, then turn the wings over and brush on extra marinade. Bake for an additional 20 minutes. Allow a few minutes to cool before serving.