Jim's Favorite Sangria Recipe

For those of you who love recipes like my sweet potato omelette, green eggs and chicken, or turkey avocado rolls, I have another one to share with you.

This recipe won't add any protein to your diet or help you shed body fat. This recipe is ALL about enjoying yourself – and that's it! Life is about balance. While I spend most of my time here inspiring you to train hard and diet smart, the rest of the time, I spend teaching you to enjoy life. What good is working your ass off in the gym and being strict and virtuous with your diet if you never take the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor? And the holidays are one of those times when I encourage you to enjoy it full force.

Holidays should be fully enjoyed

The last thing you want to do is feel guilty about enjoying yourself during the holidays. There's nothing more annoying to me than people who suggest "healthy" options for classic holiday meals. There's nothing unhealthy about enjoying yourself a few days every year. And if your diet is solid the rest of the year, eating for enjoyment is a good thing.

To illustrate my point, here's one of my all-time favorite holiday recipes for an amazing sangria that you and your guests will love. It's perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Give it a try and I guarantee that you will make it again and again. Just not too often!

Ingredients (makes one pitcher)

• 1 bottle (750 ml) of merlot (I usually use Bogle)
• 4 ounces of brandy
• 2 cups club soda
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 oranges
• 1 apple
• 1 pear
• 1 lemon
• 1 lime
• 4 large cinnamon sticks
• 4 cloves

Directions

Juice two of the oranges into a pitcher (should make about 1 cup of juice). Stir in sugar until dissolved. add wine and brandy and stir. Slice 1 orange into circular pieces about 1/8 to ¼ inch thick. Cut the circles in half and then cut the half circles into 3 triangular pieces. Add to the pitcher. Cut the lemon and the lime in a similar manner to the orange and add. Cube the apple and the pear into 1/8 to ¼ inch squares. Add the cinnamon sticks. Cut a strip of orange peel from the leftover oranges that were juiced. Stick the four cloves into the peel and add it to the pitcher. Stir ingredients and then let it chill for 4-8 hours in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve, stir in 2 cups of cold club soda and pour into glasses using a large spoon to add fruit pieces to each glass. Consider serving with a fork so you can eat the fruit pieces as you sip on the sangria.

Nutritional info per 6 oz. of sangria

Who the hell cares? This drink is to be served on a day when calories, carbs and fat do NOT matter. Just enjoy it!

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