Great Non-Alcholic Beverages

Coffee and tea are standard beverages, at least for adults. I drink coffee morning, noon, and night. It never makes me nervous or keeps me awake at night.

For holiday beverages I make lots of punch, eggnog, cider beverages and such. I keep cranberry juice and tomato cocktail for those who prefer it.

Citrus Punch Beverages

• 2 oz. citric acid crystals
• 1 large can frozen orange juice
• 1 large can pineapple juice
• 5 c. sugar
• 1/2 bottle ginger ale

Pour 2 quarts boiling water over crystals. Let stand 24 hours. Add other ingredients and 4 quarts water. Add ginger ale just before serving. Makes 2 gallons

Seven-Up Evergreen Punch Beverages

• 4 pt. lime sherbert
• 12 (7 oz.) bottles 7-up

Spoon 3 pints sherbet into punch bowl. Let sherbet soften for 5 minutes. Slowly pour into chilled 7-up, stirring slightly. Float generous scoops of remaining sherbet on top of punch. Makes 36 servings

Lime Punch Beverages

• 2 pkg. lime Kool-Aid
• 1 tall can pineapple juice
• 1 bottle ginger ale
• 1/2 gal. lime sherbet

Mix Kool-Aid according to directions. Add pineapple juice. Just before serving, add sherbet and ginger ale. Makes 1 1/2 gallons.

Cranberry-Lemon Punch Beverages

This has to be the most refreshing thing anybody could drink.

• 1 quart cranberry juice
• 2 pints lemon sherbet

Use a blender to whirl the cranberry juice and sherbet together, even if you have to do it a little at a time. Makes 8 large servings

Party Punch Beverages

• 1 46 oz. can pineapple-grapfruit juice
• 1 1-quart bottle grape juice
• 1 1-quart bottle carbonated ginger ale
• 1 ice ring with maraschino cherries

Combine the pineapple-grapefruit and grape juices in a large punch bowl. Just before serving, add the ginger ale and the ice ring.

Of course you can use ice cubes instead, but it's prettier if you just pour water into a small ring bowl and place maraschino cherries around the ring then freeze it until you're ready to slip it out of the mold and into the punch.

Pink Punch Beverages

Perfect for Baby Shower

• 6 large strawberry bottled drinks
• 1 large can pineapple juice
• 1/2 gal. pineapple sherbet

Mix drinks, juice. Just before serving, add sherbet. Makes 1 gallon.

Mulled Cider Beverages

Great for Fall and Winter Holidays

• 1 gsp. whole cloves
• 1 tsp. allspice
• Dash of nutmeg
• 2 qt. apple cider
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 orange, sliced thin
• 3 cinnamon sticks

Tie cloves, allspice, nutmeg, in small cheesecloth. Pour cider in large boiler, add spices, stir in sugar, salt and slowly bring to a boil. Cover. Simmer 20 minutes. Remove spice bag. Add orange slice floaters. Use cinnamon stick muddlers. Serve hot. Makes 10 servings.

Slush Beverages

• 1 large box strawberry gelatin
• 2 c. sugar
• 1 (42 oz.) can pineapple juice
• 4 c. hot water
• 1 small can frozen lemonade concentrate
• 1 qt. ginger ale

Dissolve gelatin and sugar in hot water. Add pineapple juice and lemonade; mix well. Pour in container and freeze. Remove from freezer a few minutes before serving time. Spoon into punch bowl and pour ginger ale over it. Makes about 26 cups.

Lemonade Beverages

• 1 c. sugar
• 1/3 c. lemon juice
• 2 c. water
• Ice water

Boil sugar and water 5 minutes. Add fruit juice, cool, and dilute with ice water to suit individual taste.

Lemon syrup may be bottled and kept on hand to be used as needed.

Lemonade Beverages

• 1 2/3 c. lemon juice
• 2 c. granulated sugar
• 3 qt water (cold)

Mix lemon juice and sugar. Add water and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Chill.

Note It may take more water to fill the gallon pitcher up. When you finish you should have 1 gallon of lemonade.

Orangeade Beverages

Make syrup as for Lemonade. Sweeten orange juice with syrup and dilute by pouring over crushed ice.

Tomato Juice Beverages

Select ripe tomatoes of bright red color. Wash well, remove cores, and cut into small pieces. Simmer until soft(temperature 170-180 degrees. Do not boil). Put the softened, hot tomatoes through a fine sieve immediately. Add 1/2 to 1 t. salt to 1 1t. juice. This juice may be served plain or seasoned and served as a cocktail. Juice may be reheated at once to 190 degrees and canned.

Tomato Juice Cocktail Beverages

• 1 c. tomato juice
• 1 tbsp. mild vinegar
• 2 tsp. sugar
• tiny bit of bay leaf
• 1 slice onion, making 1 tsp. when grated or minced
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 bruised celery stalk

Mix ingredients, let stand 15 minutes, and strain through cheesecloth. Chill and serve in small glasses.

Milk Shake Beverages

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 c. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla and nut extract

Combine in blender; beat until thick. One cup of any type frozen fruit may be substituted.

Hot Chocolate Beverages

• 1 (8 qt.) box powdered milk
• 1 c. powdered sugar
• 1 lb. box Nestle's Quick
• 1 (6 oz.) jar Coffe-Mate

Mix well. Keep in closed container. Use 1/3 cup mixture to 1 cup hot water.

California Coffee Beverages

This is an after dinner coffee and dessert also!

• 1 oz. (2 tbsp.) brandy
• 1/2 c. strong coffee
• 1 scoop chocolate ice cream

Combine brandy and coffee in coffee mug. Add scoop of chocolate ice cream and top with whipped cream.

Spice Tea Beverages

a cold weather warm-up

• 2 c. Tang
• 1 tsp. cloves
• 3/4 c. lemon tea
• 2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine ingredients and store in container. To use, mix 2 teaspoons of the mix to each cup of hot water.

Spiced Tea Beverages

• 2 c. Tang
• 3/4 c. Wyler's lemonade mix
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 3 dashes allspice
• 2 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. Lipton tea with lemon, unsweetened
• 1 tsp. cloves

Mix well; store in jar. Use 3 teaspoons per large cup of hot water for each cup.

Fancy Egg Nog Beverages

• 10 egg yolks
• 1 pt. rye whiskey
• 10 egg whites, stiffly beaten
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1 qt. heavy cream
• Ground nutmeg

Beat egg yolks and sugar. Add whiskey slowly, stirring constantly. Continue stirring and add cream. Add stiffly beaten egg whites. Chill and top each serving with nutmeg. Makes 20-25 servings.

Hot Egg Nog Beverages

Very good as a cold weather beverage

• 6 eggs, separated
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 gal. milk

Heat milk to a simmer over low heat. Mix egg yolks and sugar; beat until turns a light yellow. Beat egg whites until very stiff. Add egg yolk mixture to milk very slowly, stirring constantly on low heat. It's ready when you finish pouring the mixture in.

Just before serving, fold in egg whites, add nutmeg and serve in mugs. You may serve as is, or let each person add bourbon to their liking.

Egg Nog Beverages

• 4 eggs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 quart milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup rum or brandy
• Nutmeg

Beat the eggs and sugar together, and then add the milk and vanilla. Lastly add the rum or brandy and when you serve it shake a little nutmeg on top of each cupful. Makes 8 servings.

Helpful Hints

You wont need sugar with your teas if you drink jasmine tea or any of the lighter-boiled varieties, like Formosa Oolong, which have their own natural sweetness. They are fine for sugarless iced tea, too.

Calorie-free club soda adds sparkle to iced fruit juices, makes them go further and reduces calories per portion.

For tea flavoring, dissolve old-fashioned lemon drops or hard mint candy in your tea. They melt quickly and keep your tea brisk.

Make your own spiced cider or tea. Place orange peels, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks in a 6-inch square piece of cheesecloth. Gather the corners and tie with a string. Steep in hot cider or tea for 10 minutes or longer if you want a stronger flavor.

Always chill juices or sodas before adding to beverage recipes.

To cool your punch, float an ice ring made from the punch rather than using ice cubes. Not only is this more decorative, but it also inhibits melting and diluting.

Place fresh or dried mint in the bottom of a cup of hot chocolate for a cool and refreshing taste.

One lemon yields about 1/4 cup juice; one orange yields about 1/3 cup juice. This is helpful in making fresh orange juice or lemonade.

Never boil coffee; it brings out the acid and causes a bitter taste. Store ground coffee in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresh.

Always use cold water for electric drip coffee makers. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons ground coffee for each cup of water.

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