The New Year’s Eve Punches
If it’s January 1, I am at the home of my friends Anne and Keith. Every year the same cast and crew, more or less, gather in their kitchen, den, dining room, basement,
living room to eat (too much), drink (a lot), and share the first day of the new year. Our common thread is that we are all friends and colleagues of Anne and Keith, but the party has become a “same time, next year” event where it is nice to spend time even with those people you do not see between times.
Though made of granite, the large kitchen island groans under the weight of the many, many dishes – each labeled – on which we gorge ourselves. There are three dishes my taste buds love. Two, no surprise, are desserts. The other is punch. But not just any punch, the best punch in the universe! And this punch recipe tastes even better because of its
back story.
In the early 80s, when they became engaged, one of Anne and Keith’s gifts was a charming bowl of a kind that Anne knew they would never use. It was more about artistic impact than utility, and for a young couple starting, utility trumped, “What is this?” So back to Tiffany’s went the gift, and into Anne’s wallet went the $50 credit, where it lived for a year. Checking out Tiffany sales the following year, Anne and Keith were determined not to find something without adding a dollar to the value of their credit. And there sat this beautiful punch bowl for $50.
It is the same punch bowl in which Keith makes his famous New Year’s Eve punches with champagne. How much would that bowl cost today? Tiffany no longer carries crystal punch bowls, but some quick unscientific research revealed that while Target has a low-end model for $20 bucks, their top-of-the-line models cost twice that – and they are
plastic!
Keith’s Punch
In any bowl, here’s all you need, along with 90 seconds, to make a truly delicious punch: one quart of raspberry sherbet, to liters of Diet Ginger Ale, and one bottle of champagne, all chilled. Pour the liquids over the block of sherbet, and you are ready to please your guests with these New Year’s eve punches (see more recipes below).
Debbie’s Desserts
For the guilt-free
lemon mousse, mix 2 small (or 1 large) boxes of Lemon Jello, 24 oz Diet Sprite, 1 cup hot water, and ½ tablespoon of lemon juice. After that, refrigerate this mix for two hours, beat in Cool-Whip, then put it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it. Light. Delicious. Great served as an accompaniment to berries or other cut-up fruit.
Now indulge in a piece of this
chocolaty (food for your heart) pomegranate (anti-oxidant rich) treat. Melt dark chocolate (in a double boiler or at 50% power in a microwave). Stir in pomegranate seeds. Drop onto aluminum foil atop a baking sheet. Next, refrigerate and watch your guests swoon over this sweet-tart taste combo.
Happy, delicious new year!
Bunches of New Year’s Eve Punches
Some more fun ways to imbibe or not (see alcohol-free recipe below). Chill all liquids.
Tequila Punch Surprise
32 ounces of fruit punch drink
(not fruit punch soda, but the stuff you buy for a kids party, like Hawaiian punch)32 ounces of orange juice8 ounces of Tequila8 ounces of light rumThin slices of orange for eye and taste appeal
Sweet Pineapple Punch
32 ounces of Pineapple juice2 (2) liter bottles of ginger ale3 quarts of raspberry or orange sherbet12 ounces of light rum
Quick Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Punch
1 can (6 ounces) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed1 bottle (32 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Punch
1 can (6oz) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed1 bottle (32 oz) cranberry juice cocktail2 cans (12 oz each) Ginger Ale, chilled
Strawberry Champagne Punch
1 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne1 (2 liters) bottle ginger ale, chilled2 (10 ounces) packages of frozen strawberries, partially thawed
Champagne Orange Punch
In this order:1-quart orange sherbet2 quarts fresh orange juice1 (2 liters) bottle ginger ale2 (750 milliliter) bottles champagne
Champagne Peach Punch
3 (11.5 ounces) cans of peach nectar1 (6 ounces) can of frozen orange juice concentrate1/4 cup lemon juice1/2 cup peach brandy1/4 cup grenadine syrup1 (32 fluid ounce) bottle carbonated water3 (750 milliliter) bottles champagne
Juicy Fruit Punch with Champagne
4 fluid ounces fresh orange juice4 fluid ounces cranberry juice2 fluid ounces apple juice2 tablespoons pineapple juice2 fluid ounces lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage2 fluid ounces champagne1/4 cup sliced frozen strawberries
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