Christmas Treats Day 20: White Hot Chocolate

This delicious drink is a variation on the traditional hot cocoa using white chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

12 oz. bar white chocolate, finely chopped
6 c. milk
2 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
milk chocolate shavings for garnish

Place white chocolate in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine milk and cream in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until bubbles begin to form around edges, about 4 minutes. Do NOT boil! Pour over reserved white chocolate. Gentle stir to combine, melting the white chocolate. Whisk in vanilla. Pour into mugs and sprinkle with chocolate shaving. Serve immediately.

Christmas Treats Day 11: Old-fashioned Apple Punch

I love to try out new drink recipes for Christmas. I typically make Pink Anniversary Punch because I love the flavor and color. Instead of having egg nog or an adult beverage, this is a great spiced punch to try.

2 quarts apple juice or cider

1 cup orange juice

3 cinnamon sticks

28 oz. 7-Up

12 whole cloves

1 Cortland apple, thinly sliced

Simmer one quart apple juice with spices for 10 minutes.  Refrigerate several hours or overnight to develop full spiced flavor.  Discard cinnamon and cloves.  Combine mixture and remaining chilled apple and orange juice in large punch bowl.  Slowly pour in chilled 7-Up.  Garnish with apple slices.

Yields: 26 cups

Frosty Apple Shake

1 quart apple juice, chilled

1 pint vanilla ice cream, softened

1 8¾ oz can crushed pineapple (optional)

½ tsp cinnamon or sprinkle with nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in blender or with mixer until frothy.

Sherbet Punch

2 qts. lime sherbet

2 liters ginger ale

1 46 oz can pineapple juice

Mix together all ingredients in a punch bowl.  Garnish bowl or individual glasses with maraschino cherries, lemons and limes.

*May substitute any flavor sherbet.  Have fun with it!

Banana Punch

100-4 oz servings

4-6 bananas
1-46 ounce can pineapple juice
1-12 ounce can orange juice concentrate
4 cups sugar
4 tablespoons lemon juice
6 cups water
12 cups/ 3 quarts ginger ale

Puree bananas in blender with a little bit of juice. Mix in all ingredients except water and ginger ale. Freeze the mixture. 1 1/2 hours before serving, take it out, let it thaw and add water and ginger ale to make slush.

Grasshopper Flip

2-8 oz servings

1 cup mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened
1 cup lemon-lime soda, chilled
2 teaspoons crème de menthe extract
1/4 - 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
Chocolate sprinkles

Place ice cream, soda, and extract in blender. Cover and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into serving glasses. Top with whipped topping and sprinkles.

-Thicker: add more ice cream

Pink Anniversary Punch

Yields: 20-5 oz servings

3 cups water
1 cup sugar
1-32 ounce bottle cranberry juice
2 cups pineapple juice
2/3 cup lemon juice
2-12 ounce cans lemon lime soda, chilled
Ice ring (pink punch w/ maraschino cherries and lemon slices)

In small saucepan over medium heat, stir water and sugar until sugar dissolves. Cover and chill. In large pitcher or glass container, stir together sugar syrup and juices. Cover and chill thoroughly. To serve, pour juice into chilled punch bowl. Stir in soda and add ice ring. Serve.