Berry Slush

This is a great drink for when you are serving a large crowd and you want the drink to be extra pretty! It can also second as a fruit serving. I remember drinking this every year at our Young Women's Christmas Brunches and it was always something to look forward to! It does take some preparation and planning, but it is worth it! As written below this makes 40-50 servings.

2 quarts water (8 cups)
1 quart suger (4 cups)
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 cups pineapple tidbits
2 16 oz. bags frozen raspberries
2 16 oz. bags frozen blueberries
8 sliced bananas
sprite (optional)

(You could substitute 32 oz. of a frozen berry mix for the raspberries and blueberries if you prefer...I like to get the mixed berries at costco)

1-2 days before you plan to serve the drink - stir water, sugar and lemon juice together until dissolved and freeze in tupperware or bundt pan. (it doesn't have to look pretty frozen)

1 hour before serving - dump pineapple tidbits over frozen block in your serving bowl and keep out at room temp.

15 minutes before serving - mush with fork to get slushy. Add berries and bananas. Add sprite for a more liquid slush (I prefer this method).

Party Punch

I think I saw this recipe on One Charming Party and wrote it down because I really wanted to give it a try. We served it at our Christmas Night open house and it was perfect!

2 liter sprite
1 can frozen lemonade
3 cans water
1 package kool-aid lemonade
1 cup sugar
fresh or frozen berries (I skipped this, but it does look pretty and probably adds some yummy berry flavor)
lemon slices
ice

Mix all ingredients together in a large drink container.

Grandma Tate's Hot Chocolate Recipe

Seth's cute family made a compiled recipe book for Christmas this year and we have been having so much fun trying the new recipes. One of our new favorites is Grandma Tate's hot chocolate. Grandma Tate is one of the most wonderful people I have ever ever met and everything she makes tastes even better because you know she came up with the recipe with lots of love and caring!

2 2/3 cup dry milk
1 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. cocoa
pinch of salt
7 1/2 cups water
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 tsp vanilla

Mix the first 4 ingredients well in a saucepan. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Heat over low and serve. Do not boil.

Sparkling Cranberry Drink

This is my favorite holiday drink concoction, and it looks so festive for either Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years.

1 bottle (approx. 64 oz.) Cranberry Pomegranite or other Cranberry blend juice
1 bottle (2 liter) 7-UP
1 - 2 cups fresh cranberries
1 - 2 Tbsp. sugar
1 orange, thinly sliced

Place cranberries and sugar in a ziploc bag and shake to coat cranberries with sugar. Place bag in freezer for 1-2 hours or until cranberries are frozen.

When ready to serve, combine chilled juice and 7-UP in a serving bowl or pitcher. Chop 1/2 - 1 cup frozen cranberries in a blender. Add chopped cranberries, remaining whole cranberries and orange slices to juice mixture. Serve!

As another option, you could add pomegranite seeds to the mixture in addition to or instead of cranberries. A little more work and cost, but perfect if you have a pomegranite on hand.