Celebrating International Picnic Day with a #PicnicGame...Featuring Wild Watermelon Sangria

Today, we are celebrating International Picnic Day by bringing you a basket packed with goodies from A to Z, in the style of the #PicnicGame! Drop by the Sunday Supper Movement today to see the whole picnic spread out on our virtual blanket.

I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing...
Asian Chicken Salad from Try Anything Once Culinary
Beautiful Beet Salad from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Elote from Peaceful Cooking
Greek Farro Salad from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Honey Porter Glazed Chicken and Vegetable Skewers from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Italian Pasta Salad from Casa de Crews
Japanese Plum Sushi from NinjaBaking.com
Kudos Kitchen Kolaches from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Lemon Yogurt Bundt Cake from In The Kitchen With KP
Molasses Lovers Baked Beans from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
Northern Bean Salad with Egg and Prosciutto from Family Foodie
Orzo Salad from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
PICOBLAT from Simply Healthy Family
Quinoa-Stuffed Grape Leaves from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Spicy Southern Fried Chicken from Food Lust People Love
Tuscan Bread Salad from Curious Cuisiniere
Ultimate Potato Salad from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
Veggie Loaded Sandwiches from Momma's Meals

...and I'm sharing a refreshing Summer beverage, my delicious Wild Watermelon Sangria. Watermelon is the perfect Summertime fruit, and it works really nicely in sangria. Simply mix together this sparkling sangria up to a day ahead and store it in a plastic container in the fridge. When you get to your picnic, simply pour the vibrant-pink sangria into a clear pitcher to show off its gorgeous color. Then, get ready to wow everyone. Just wait until you see my secret ingredient to really up the watermelon flavor!

Wild Watermelon Sangria

a Weekend Gourmet Original

Ingredients:

• 8 sour watermelon hard candies
• 1/2 cup water
• 2.5 cups watermelon chunks 
• 1 bottle sweet white wine [NOTE: I used Gallo Moscato]
• 1/2 cup limoncello (lemon liqueur)
• 16 ounces lemon-lime soda, regular or sugar free
• 2 cups assorted mixed fruit, chopped [NOTE: To keep things simple, I purchased a fresh fruit cup that contained berries, grapes, melon, kiwi, and pineapple]

Directions:
Step 1: Combine the watermelon candies and water in a measuring cup. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then give it a stir to dissolve the candies into the water. Cook on high for another 2 minutes, then stir until the candies are completely dissolved into the water. This easy watermelon simple syrup is the secret ingredient for this sangria!

Step 2: Add the watermelon chunks to a blender and puree until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the chopped fruit to the bottom of a large pitcher, then pour the pureed watermelon on top. This is the refreshing fruity base for the sangria.

 Step 3: Add the white wine, limoncello, and lemon-lime soda to the pitcher and stir well to combine. The mixture will foam up a bit from the carbonation in the soda, but it will go away as the sangria rests in the fridge. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving, to allow the flavors to combine and the sangria to chill -- but up to a day ahead is fine too. Transfer the sangria to your picnic in a plastic container and store on ice until you're ready to serve.

This sangria is like Summer in a glass. It's fizzy, sweet-tart, and full of fruit flavor...think of it as fruit punch for adults!! The watermelon simple syrup provides the perfect punch of watermelon flavor...everyone will be trying to put their finger on what the background flavor is. Whether you share the secret is up to you. Summer is about fun...and this sangria certainly fits the bill. I hope you give it a try for July 4th or any other picnics and outdoor cookouts you have planned over the coming months.

Share this post