White Sangria Fruit Salad

This ain't your mama's fruit salad, it has been kicked up a notch with some white wine and honey dressing for a sangria spin.

You know I don't do boring... Like if someone asked me I make them fruit salad, it wouldn't be just some fruit in a bowl. Nope!!

So you know what also has fruit? Sangria! So why not fuse the two and make sangria fruits salad. Like regular sangria with the wine as more of a dressing...

I mean who doesn't like some alcohol in their fruit salad?! It's still healthy since there is just a little bit... just a little, it doesn't count right?

I looked up some traditional white sangria recipes and the fruit they used did not thrill me. Since this is a white sangria I wanted to keep the flavors sweet and use fruit with similar textures and flavors and lighter in color more in line with the taste of a white wine. I chose peaches, nectarines, pineapple and apricots.

I then went a little wild and added some fresh ginger to awaken the senses and I thought it would also pair nicely with the white wine and it totally did! Then to add some sweetness I added a little honey as well!

BAM! Not yo mama's fruit salad!

What you need

1 cup fresh pineapple
2 apricots, pitted and sliced
1 large ripe peach, pitted and sliced
1 large nectarine, pitted and sliced

Dressing

1 teaspoon grated ginger
2 teaspoons honey
1/3 cup Pino Grigio wine

How to make it

1- in a large bowl combine all the fruit
2- In a smaller bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients
3- Toss dressing into the fruit and mix it in.
4- Serve it all fancy and shit in a martini glass!

Nutritional Information

See still great nutritional stats, even with little bit of fun added ;)

Thinking outside the pie: Pumpkin Bolognese

Why is this a Foodgasm? This is really a sneaky foodgasm, I mean Pumpkin Bolognase? Really? I came upon the idea after I made the Pumpkin Chili, I thought hmmm why not make a meat sauce, like a Bolognese with pumpkin instead of tomato. I like to challenge the idea that pumpkins are just for baking! Let's think outside the pie on this one. Well I made this up completely outta my head after studying some classic Bolognese recipes. When I tell you I just about fell off my chair from just how good this was- well I was just so amazed! The spicy sausage, the sweetness of the carrots and the pumpkin combined with the sweet acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc just made my taste buds explode in rapture! Yes it was almost a religious experience! AMEN!

This is a 6 point foodgasm (recipe yields 8 servings)
 

Spicy Italian Sausage with Caramelized Onion, Fennel, and Basil in a White Wine Reduction

While I write this blog, I am actually eating this Foodgasmic creation....really helps for inspiration!  I have never cooked with fresh fennel before (aka anise) and I just knew I had to pair it with Italian sausage!  This was easy, quick and a true foodgasm. About 25 mins to Delicious town!  All aboard!

Why this is a Foodgasm:
Wine and porkfat together make magic!  Then add the unique flavor of fennel and the sweetness of caramelized onions, well you got an orgy of fabulous flavors!

What you need:
3 HOT (or sweet if you prefer) Italian Sausage links
1/2 bulb of fennel (cored)
1 large onion (slices)
1 orange bell pepper (slices)
2 tbsp EVOO
1/2 cup white wine
5 Large Basil Leaves
Salt and Pepper to taste

How to make it:
In a frying pan on Medium-High heat add EVOO and fry sausage, once the outside is browned add the onion, bell pepper and fennel slices. Saute until onions are a golden caramelized color (about 10 mins). Move to Medium-Low heat, add white wine and Basil....just take a whif.  It smells soooooo good!  Let all the sausage dripping and wine intermingle into a delicious sauce and let it reduce for about 5 mins. Serve over your pasta of choice, sprinkle with parmasean and ENJOY!!