Instead of bringing flowers to the next dinner party you attend, bring ingredients for sangria. Ask the hosts to provide a clear glass flower vase, or pack your own. Procure four Valencia oranges (the smoothest skin, the juiciest fruit), three apples, two lemons, two bottles of red wine and a flask of brandy. Into the vase, juice two oranges and one lemon. Slice the other oranges and lemon into flat discs and layer in vase. At this point you will need to grab a towel or some napkins, because your work station will be overflowing with juice, rind and pulp. Sop and mop. Now chop the apples into chunks; add those, too. Ask the host to uncork the two bottles of wine, because your own hands will be too sticky. Pour over fruit, being careful not to splash any fellow guests with the glugs. Add half a flask of brandy, or the whole thing if you’re feeling “naughty.” Then stir, and taste it in a coffee mug because you’ll want to avoid dirtying up real glasses, which will be needed for the guests. You will notice that it’s a bit on the dry side, which is fine for adult dinner parties. But if by chance someone has made a pitcher of lemonade, try adding a splash or two of that. While we all like to think we have advanced, sophisticated palates, the truth is a little sugar can go a long way at a dinner party. If there’s no lemonade, go with a few tablespoons of the stuff straight. Sangria is a type of fruit punch, after all. Now put the vase, including the wooden spoon you used to stir with, in the center of the table. Or if the table is quite full already, get the party started with off-center table placement and encourage the person closest to the vase to pour. Two people might be required to handle this type of pitcher, which is not really a pitcher. Sangria not only makes an excellent centerpiece, then; it is a real ice breaker.
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