Berry Delicious Game Night {recipes #63, 64 & 65}

A while ago, we had a game night with our good friends Emy and Matthew.

It was the first time we had really had people over to our apartment and we wanted to do something fun. We decided to play several games including Ticket to Ride (above). 

We also wanted to have some yummy food and drink available. This was over the summer so we decided to utilize a LOT of fresh berries. 

So here are recipes 64, 65 & 66:

Berry Sangria {+ simple syrup} & Mini Berry Trifles {whipped cream}

Berry Sangria

{Borrowed Adapated and Enjoyed from 101 Sangrias and Pitcher Drinks by Kim Haasarud}

Ingredients:

 3/4 cup of 3 of the following berries {strawberries (hulled and sliced), blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries

3/4 cup simple syrup 

1 bottle of red wine

1/2 cup of triple sec

1/2 cup berry flavored vodka

1 cup orange juice

1) In a saucepan, combine all of your chosen berries {we used blueberries, strawberries and raspberries} with the simple syrup {recipe below} over low heat. Stir constantly until berries just begin to soften and discolor.

2) Combine the remaining ingredients in a large ceramic or glass container. Add the berry mixture {berries and liquid} and stir well. 

3) Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 

Serve in Pretty Glasses and Enjoy!

Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1 cup hot water

1) In a bowl, glass or empty wine bottle mix the sugar and hot water. Stir or shake until completely dissolved. Let cool  completely before using. {this sangria recipe you cook the simple syrup with the berries, so it doesn't really require cooling!}

Mini Berry Trifles

This recipe really isn't that new to most people, its just store-bought pound cake, sugared berries and whipped cream. What makes it count as one of my recipes is just that I made the whipped cream from scratch, which I had never done! But it was VERY worth it!

Ingredients:

Pound Cake 

Sugared Berries of your choice {cleaned, sliced and hulled if necessary}

1 pint of heavy cream

1 T. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1) Mix the berries with sugar to taste and set aside.

2) Slice, Tear or crumble the pound cake into small pieces.

3) Whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract with a hand mixer until fluffy.

4) Set up the ingredients buffet style and let your guests build their own mini trifles by layering the ingredients to their liking!

 

Enjoy!

What is your favorite way to use berries?

All for now,

Alexandra