Thirsty Thursday – Festive Fruit Punch

I made this punch for our family Christmas party. It was a HUGE hit. There was nothing left by the end of the night. I woke up craving more the next morning.

Festive Fruit Punch

1 (6oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 (6 oz) can frozen pineapple juice concentrate, thawed

1 (6 oz) can orange or tangerine juice concentrate, thawed

5 cups water

1 2-liter bottle of ginger ale, chilled (I used lemon-lime soda)

for the garnish

kiwi slices

orange curls

strawberry slices

fresh mint sprigs

Serves 12

1. To make the punch, in a punch bowl, mix lemonade, pineapple juice and orange juice concentrates and water. Blend well.

2. Add chilled ginger ale and ice cubes just before serving.

3. For the fruit garnishes, peel kiwi; Using a peeler, score strips, from top to bottom, all the way around the fruit at about 1/8-inch intervals. Cut kiwi into 1/4-inch slices.

4. To make orange curls, using a zester, (which I don’t have) remove peel, avoiding the white, bitter pith underneath.

5. Wash and dry strawberries and mint sprigs. Slice strawberries. Garnish punch with kiwi, orange curls, strawberries and mint sprigs. Serve in punch cups, fluted glasses or wine goblets.

Attention to detail

• Fill a ring mold or other festive mold halfway with the punch mixture. Add fresh fruit and freeze. Use as a garnish as well as for chilling. For winter holidays, cranberries make a pretty addition; for spring and summer gatherings, fresh berries are the choice to make.
• Orange juice containers or other cardboard juice containers make great ice molds. Fill with the punch mixture and toss in fresh mint leaves and sliced fruit. Freeze overnight. (This is what I did)
• Instead of using a traditional punch bowl, carve a fun decorative pattern in a hollowed out watermelon and fill with punch.