Charleston Christmas Punch

by Nancy via a friend in West Virginia

4 c. cranberry or cran-raspberry juice

4 c pineapple juice

1 c. sugar

1 T. almond extract

2 quarts gingerale or 7-UP

Mix first four ingredients.  Pour over ice.  Add gingerale.  Serves 20-25.

~This yummy punch came to our attention during the time we lived in West Virginia.

Wassail

by Nancy

1 gallon apple cider

 1/2 can frozen orange juice

1 1/2 cans water

2 c. pineapple juice

1 t. whole cloves

3 cinnamon sticks

Heat, simmer and serve

Piña Colada

by Bethany

1 can crushed pineapple

1 can cream of coconut

1 cap full of rum extract (optional)

Blend together and pour in a glass filled with crushed ice

Smoothies

by Kathleen

4-5 ice cubes

1 c. frozen fruit

Blend in blender on high

Add:

1 1/2 c. of juice

couple of scoops of sherbet or frozen yogurt

banana or other fruit

Blend again until it's delicious

~My favorite one uses frozen strawberries and pineapple, orange juice, and  sherbet of some fruit variety.  Also delicious is a mixture of frozen peaches, orange juice and vanilla frozen yogurt.

Homemade Rootbeer

by Eileen

1 bottle rootbeer extract

5 lbs. sugar

5 lbs. dry ice

4 1/2 gallons water

Put 3 gallons of water in a 5 gallon cooler.  Stir in extract, sugar and dry ice.  Let bubble about 10 minutes.  Then add another gallon of water.  Let bubble again for a few minutes and then add enough more water to fill the cooler, usually not more than 1/2 gallon.  Serve.

Hot Spiced Cider

by Nancy

1 gallon sweet cider

1 lb. brown sugar

6  2 inch pieces of cinnamon

1 T. whole cloves

1/2 t. ginger

1 T. whole allspice

1/2 t. salt

1 lemon peel, grated

juice of 2 lemons

Mix in order given except lemon juice.  Bring to the boiling point.  Boil 15 minutes.  Add lemon juice and strain.  Serve hot....but it is also good cold.

Crystal Punch

by Eileen

Make in a 5 gallon cooler.

1 T. + 1 t. lemon extract

4 T. citric acid

12 c. sugar

1 bag crushed ice

water to make 5 gallons

~ This punch was featured at several family wedding receptions and parties.  Not only is it delicious, it is also colorless, making clean up so much easier.