Raspberry-Orange Sunrises

Here's the perfect beverage to pour in honor of Mom for brunch this Mother's Day weekend.  Definitely take the time to squeeze out fresh oranges for the best flavor, and serve with any brunch food - breakfast burritos, muffins and fruit, or a hearty strata are all great vegan dishes to serve.  Either way, please take a moment and remember the mother cows, mother pigs, and mother hens this Mother's Day, who don't get to keep their babies - and then kick dairy, eggs, and meat from your plate in their honor!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups fresh-squeezed orange juice
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 1 and 1/2 cups sparkling wine*
• 3 orange slices (optional for garnish)

1. Combine the orange juice and raspberries in a blender and process until smooth.  Transfer to a large bowl or pitcher.  Stir in the sparkling wine.

2. Serve over ice in juice glasses.  Cut 3 orange slices in half, and add an orange half to each glass rim as garnish if desired; the garnish reminded me of a little sun rising on the horizon.

*For the sparkling wine, it doesn't have to be true champagne: prosecco, cava, or American sparkling wines will all work just as well here.  Either way, dozens of sparkling wines are on the vegan safe-list at barnivore.com, including the ubiquitous Veuve Clicquot, so you shouldn't have much trouble.  Choose a semisweet variety (often labeled demi-sec), not one that's extra dry (brut).

Nutrition Info:
6 servings (1 cup), Calories 178 

Tasting Notes:
One of the most refreshing brunch cocktails I've ever had - a cross between a raspberry sorbet punch and a mimosa.  I liked that the drink was only lightly effervescent from the champagne, but didn't have the strong taste of alcohol.  Zero complaints on this one.

Rating: 
4