It’s hard to believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away. Tis the season for frantic shopping, high stress levels and Christmas parties. Lots of people every year invite their friends and loved ones for a “simple” party, which usually turns into some big, stressful event. Take a load off your mind if you’re planning a party with a couple easy recipes for Christmassy punches.
The first one is a hot punch, and is great for cold evenings. Here’s what you need:
3 bottles dry red wine
1 1/2 cups brandy
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
3 small lemons
Pour the wine and brandy together into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Once that is heated, add everything but the lemons. Stir well and simmer for 2 minutes. While that is simmering, slice your lemons into small lengthwise slices. Add them, stir, and serve into mugs.
The next offering, the classic Champagne Punch might be better suited to a New Years party but still fits the festive season. It’s a little more upper class if that’s what you’re shooting for.
1 cup Triple Sec
1 cup brandy
1/2 cup Chambord
2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice.
1 quart chilled ginger ale
2 chilled bottles dry champagne
Combine the Triple Sec, brandy, Chambord and pineapple juice in a bowl and set in your fridge the night before the party. This will let the flavors mix, and get it nice and chilled. In your punch bowl, add the chilled mix, the chilled ginger ale and the champagne. Throw some ice cubes in there to keep it cold. Another good touch, though optional, is to put some pineapple chunks in the punch.
There are many, many different variations of punches you can use for a Christmas party. I remember one I had a few years ago that involved a block of sherbet being placed in the middle of the punch bowl, and the more it melted, the better it got.
Ah, choices, choices.
