Bunches of New Year’s Eve Punches

New Year's Eve punches

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 juice
8 ounces of Tequila
8 ounces of light rum
Thin slices of orange for eye and taste appeal

Sweet Pineapple Punch

32 ounces of Pineapple juice
2 (2) liter bottles of ginger ale
3 quarts of raspberry or orange sherbet
12 ounces of light rum

Quick Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Punch

1 can (6 ounces) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 bottle (32 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail, chilled

Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Punch

1 can (6oz) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 bottle (32 oz) cranberry juice cocktail
2 cans (12 oz each) Ginger Ale, chilled

Strawberry Champagne Punch

1 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne
1 (2 liters) bottle ginger ale, chilled
2 (10 ounces) packages of frozen strawberries, partially thawed

Champagne Orange Punch

In this order:
1-quart orange sherbet
2 quarts fresh orange juice
1 (2 liters) bottle ginger ale
2 (750 milliliter) bottles champagne

Champagne Peach Punch

3 (11.5 ounces) cans of peach nectar
1 (6 ounces) can of frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup peach brandy
1/4 cup grenadine syrup
1 (32 fluid ounce) bottle carbonated water
3 (750 milliliter) bottles champagne

Juicy Fruit Punch with Champagne

4 fluid ounces fresh orange juice
4 fluid ounces cranberry juice
2 fluid ounces apple juice
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
2 fluid ounces lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
2 fluid ounces champagne
1/4 cup sliced frozen strawberries

 

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