I make a version of this watermelon punch, below, but add simple syrup to taste, as I've found her Paula's version is a bit too sweet for my taste. I noticed other reviewers said the same thing. I've never been big on punches with sherbert, but sorbet might be more up my alley. My mother in law makes hers with chocolate chip ice cream and it makes me gag.

Here is a link that might be useful: Watermelon Punch

Bottled mixed fruit juice of your choice and 7-up or ginger ale. Make ice cubes with thin lemon slices or other fruit - but you'll have to find the old-fashioned ice cube trays. Or, make a block of ice with fruit in it (plastic storage container maybe?) and float that.

I haven't made punch since I discovered sparkling wine back in the 80's. LOL

Nancy

Thanks ynnej. Looking good.

Nancy, you're close! I was going to use my "jello" ring (never make jello in it) into a huge ice cube. Sparkling wine is my favorite, but she's a recovering alcoholic (30+ years), so not good for her. But I'd be right there beside ya! I think, I'll make it the ring with the fruit juice and slices.

rob I was served this punch at a party a few years ago and everyone enjoyed it. I have since made it for a few wedding/baby showers and it was well received.

Sparkling Punch
Prep: 10 min., Chill: 1 hr.

2 (46-oz.) cans pineapple juice
1 (12-oz.) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (10-oz.) can frozen strawberry daiquiri mix concentrate, thawed
2 (1-liter) bottles ginger ale or 7-UP
Garnish: lemon slices

1. Stir together first 3 ingredients. Cover and chill 1 hour. Stir in ginger ale just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Yield: Makes about 1 1/2 gal.
Southern Living, APRIL 2007

My choice of "punch" without booze in it is also fruit juice, but I prefer either sprite or 7-up...or a mix of both 7-up and seltzer as it's not so sweet.
One I have made many times is half Cran-raspberry juice and an equal quantity of Sprite....floated with lime slices in a jello ring mold of ice made with Sprite. Pretty for Christmas.

Another is white grape juice, with sprite and strawberries in the ice ring.
Happy birthday to Momma....and high fives for being clean and sober for 30 years!

Another option is Martinelli's Sparkling Cider in a champagne-style bottle. Very festive.

I had a good friend who was a church secretary and often got involved in events at the church. Her go-to punch was a 2 liter bottle of Sprite or 7-up with 1 teaspoon of almond extract in it. She mixed it by adding the almond extract to the bottle of Sprite.

She liked it because the ingredients were simple, could be kept on hand, and it could be mixed as needed. It can be served in pitchers instead of punch bowls.

My friend said the punch was always a favorite and the guests were always surprised to learn how simple the recipe was.

I like a punch made with equal parts of cranberry juice/nectar and ginger ale.

Lars

There was a request recently for punch recipes on our local Cafe. Here are some of the tried and true recipes.

2L can of pineapple juice
2L Orange Juice
2L Ginger ale
2L Sprite
1 thinly sliced lemon
1 thinly sliced orange
ice

mix it together and enjoy :)

1 can of frozen lemonade
1 can of frozen limeade
2L bottle of Cranberry ginger ale or Cranberry pop
and ice

Punch is punch, with various mixtures of fruit juices and beverages, they are all good, not much excitement.

Creative Presentation can give it the "punch".

1. A small submergible battery operated aquarium pump ($15.00) to create a fountain for many hours in the bowl.

2. You may be able to find changing color small LED lights ($5.00) in a party supply store. Wrap it in plastic to water proof and put it inside the punch.

3. Get a small block of dry ice and put it in the punch. Great cloud effect.

dcarch

Well, Rob, I can tell you this much: Do NOT get one of those punch fountains. I used one for the girls' weddings and the darned things splash tiny droplets of punch all over the darned place, everywhere within about a 2 or 3 foot radius. After Ashley's reception, I left the blasted thing at the chuch.

OK, punch. One my my simple favorites is a bottle of white grape juice, a bottle of cranberry/raspberry juice and a bottle of gingerale. Ice with your ice ring or cubes of ice with raspberries and lemon slices.

Happy Birthday to your Mom, and congratulations on her 30 years of sobriety.

Annie

No recipe to add but a tip from friend of mine that is a chef and caterer.

If you make your ice ring/cubes with distilled water it will remain clear when frozen, not get "cloudy".This way your fruit or whatever is more visible in the clear ice.

I have used berries and mint leaves and also edible flowers in my ice. very pretty.

Linda

DD and I like faux-mimosas (or fauxmosas)....orange juice and diet Sprite, in the same proportions that you use for real mimosas. We use about 1/3 OJ and 2/3 Sprite. Refreshing!

Posted by annie1992 "Well, Rob, I can tell you this much: Do NOT get one of those punch fountains. I used one for the girls' weddings and the darned things splash tiny droplets of punch all over the darned place, -------------"

Not always. I have done it many times. It depends how it's done. I will show you that it can be done if I can find my setup.

Posted by doucanoe "------If you make your ice ring/cubes with distilled water it will remain clear when frozen, not get "cloudy".This way your fruit or whatever is more visible in the clear ice. "
Making crystal clear ice at home has been tried by many people. It seems to me that no one has really done it yet successfully. Some claimed that they have done it, but could not proof it. I have tried distilled water, filtered water. Boiled water, twice boiled water, -----, nothing worked.

Restaurants use machines to make crystal clean ice.

dcarch

Sorry Rob but I don't have any punch recipes that don't involve alcohol...how sad is that!!!

Just wanted to chime in and wish your Mom a very happy 70th Birthday!

Another who says nix the fountains! Not much worse than a punch that is supposed to have a little fizz, but has been recirculated through a fountain until it's warm and all the fizz is gone....uck!

Clear ice can be produced by boiling distilled water to remove any gasses, then freezing it slowly in a covered container....so it doesn't absorb any more gas. I did it back when I was a kid experimenting with stuff....now it's not so important.

I found my setup and I made a video. Someone cracked my punch bowl so I am using a small frying pan cover upside down. Even with a small "bowl", there is no splashing around.

The LED light changes color by itself. If I put a little dry ice in the bowl, the effect would be even more dramatic.

It all depends on how special you want the presentation to be. It does not have to cost a lot of money.

LindaC's method of making clear ice has been tried by many, no one has been able to come up with clear ice cube yet.

dcarch

Here is a link that might be useful: Fountain Of Youth

Here is a recipe I have had since the 70's and it is very good.
1 large 36oz can unsweetened pineapple juice
1 12 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 12 oz can frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup sugar
6 cups water
2 quarts ginger ale or one bottle of champagne

dissolve 1/2 cup sugar in 6 cups of water.
Add orange juice and lemonade concentrate and amount of water called for on each can. usually 3 cans each
add pineapple juice.
Pour into containers and freeze. I use old 1/2 gallon milk cartons.
This makes 1 and 1/2 gallons mix.
When ready to serve, thaw until slushy add the ginger ale or champagne.
This can be done in a punch bowl or in a pitcher. I usually use half mixture and half ginger ale when serving if making in a pitcher. Sometimes I make it up and just let it completely thaw in fridge and mix it half and half with ginger ale in a glass for one serving at a time.
I have mixed it up and just used it, didn't freeze.
Pretty versatile stuff.

Dcarch, your LED light gave me an idea. Are there tiny battery-powered LED lights that would work if frozen inside an ice ring?

About the punch itself, reading these recipes I'm wondering if there are any that are less sweet. I could add lemon juice to adjust sweetness, of course.

Dcarch, my male cat Monty loves to drink out of fountains. Your frying pan fountain would be perfect. Thanks for the idea.

~Ann

These are great! I've been off all weekend since mommy's actual birthday was the 8th. I'll take these to the bank. I tried to find sparkling cider and couldn't. I'm going to try two more places tonight for it.

Try Martinelli's store locator on their website. Look for the champagne-style bottles.

Here is a link that might be useful: Martinelli's

Thanks, dcarch, but I left the fountain at the church reception hall in Fremont, I didn't even bother to bring the da*ned thing home. Dave did mention, however, that he'd like a cheese fountain instead of a chocolate one. I just kept thinking how big a mess THAT could be!

Now, if you could find a way to keep those big 5 gallon thermal cooler spigots from leaking all over when used, I'd really like THAT, I always end up setting the thing on a table, then putting a towel on the floor directly under the spigot to catch the last couple of drops after someone fills their glass.

Annie