Sherbert Punch

As the kiddos are older, I thought it would be fun to make them a special mocktail for the Thanksgiving festivities. I remember drinking a mixture of Sprite with Minute Maid fruit punch, and how much I loved it. I recently went to a baby shower where the host made a punchbowl full of a sherbert topped mocktail. It reminded me of backyard weddings I attended during my childhood in a small town. I couldn’t get all the ingredients together for the punch below, but thought I’d keep it for the future. The rainbow sherbert melted into this grey mess. Although the kids still loved it, I would use a one-flavor variety to avoid the color blending.

Combine:

• 1 liter Sprite, Squirt or Ginger ale
• 1 liter club soda (or more to dampen the sweetness)
• 6 oz frozen Minute Maid fruit punch
• 6 oz frozen pineapple juice
• Raspberry sherbert (add right before serving)
• Garnish with fruit

Orange Dream Jello Shots

So yummy especially with the whipping cream!  I would buy extra oranges in case of tearing.  I let these sit in the wells of a muffin tin to prevent tilting

• 3 oranges, cut in half, juiced and flesh removed (optional)
  • *Note that navel oranges did not work well.  The navel end has a tough inside that is not easily removed without creating a hole!
• 1 cup boiling water
• 3/4 cup vodka
• 1/4 cup triple sec
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• small box of orange Jello

1. In a 4-cup measuring cup, combine the hot water and jello. Stir to dissolve
2. Add the vodka, triple sec and heavy cream
3. Pour into the halved, cored oranges
4. Let chill for several hours
5. Slice and serve!

Watermelon juice

So simple but so delicious!  This frosty drink reminds me of my trips visiting my family in Thailand.

• Roughly 4 parts watermelon chunks and 1 part ice cubes
• Splash of water or lime juice
• Drizzle of agave syrup to taste

In a personal blender, add ice cubes first, then watermelon, water or lime juice and agave syrup.

Blend till ice is well combined.

blushing beauty mocktail

Tonight we are going over to a friend’s house for an Italian-themed Bon Voyage party for two friends travelling to China.  Yes, I know, an Italian dinner for a China voyage?
I wanted to bring a festive non-alcoholic drink, since the hostess does not drink alcohol.  I wanted something that was autumn-hued to celebrate the new season.  Some thoughts that came to mind:  lemon and mint, basil and mint, grapefruit and cranberry, cranberry and lime….then I came across a recipe on the internet which apparently was adapted from a recipe from Rachel Ray.

6 cups ruby red grapefruit juice
3 cups diet ginger ale
1 cup cranberry or pomegranate juice
1 cup peach nectar

After tasting it, I think that a little lime juice would balance the bitterness of the grapefruit and cranberry and the sweetness from the peach.  I’ll try that next time.