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Tried and True Family Recipes

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Sparkling Citrus Punch

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Sparkling Citrus Punch

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Sparkling Citrus Punch

"This punch is great for any gathering and makes a nice presentation."
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 quarts

Ingredients

  • 1 (6 oz.) can frozen lemonade
  • 1 (6 oz.) can frozen limeade
  • 1 (6 oz.) can frozen orange juice
  • 1 (28 oz.) bottle club soda
  • 1 (28 oz.) bottle ginger ale
  • 1 pint strawberries
  • 1 lime thinly sliced

Instructions

  • In a large punch bowl, combine undiluted lemonade, limeade, and orange juice, cover and chill until very cold.
  • Just before serving, add club soda, ginger ale and ice cubes, stir until blended. Float strawberries and lime slices on top of punch.

Simple Sangria

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Simple Sangria

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Simple Sangria

"The beauty of this Sangria recipe, is that it's as delicious as it is easy, and only gets better as you spice it up with your own additions!"
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 (1.5 liter) bottle red wine
  • 1 1/2 c. fresh orange juice
  • 1/3 c. brandy
  • 1/3 c. granulated sugar
  • 2 nectarines pitted and cut into wedges
  • 1 orange cut in half then sliced
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • 1 Kirby pickling cucumber sliced
  • 3 c. seltzer or club soda chilled
  • ice cubes

Instructions

  • In a 3 to 4 quart pitcher, combine wine, orange juice, brandy, and sugar; stir until sugar dissolves. Add fruit and cucumber
  • Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 3 hours or overnight.
  • Just before serving, stir in seltzer. Pour sangria over ice filled glasses.
  • Cook's Note: I like to use Merlot or Shiraz, but you can create a lighter punch with a crisp white or rosé.

Red White & Blue Sangria

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Red White & Blue Sangria

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Red White & Blue Sangria

This fun and festive red, white, and blue sangria is the perfect addition to your 4th of July celebration!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle dry white wine or rosé
  • 1/2 c. triple sec
  • 1/4 c. berry flavored vodka
  • 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 c. simple syrup (see below)
  • 3/4 c. blueberries
  • 3/4 c. sliced strawberries
  • 3/4 c. raspberries
  • 1/2 c. pineapple chunks

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a large glass punch bowl or pitcher and stir well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve in glasses over ice.

Notes

Simple Syrup: Combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan, then heat until the sugar is dissolved. Cool completely before using.
Sparkling Sangria: Add one (12 oz.) can of berry-flavored sparkling water to the pitcher just before serving. 
Cook's Note: For even more pizzazz, buy a whole fresh pineapple, peel it and cut it into slices. Using a small star cookie cutter, cut star-shaped chunks of pineapple. Alternately, you could do this with an apple too! 
 
 
 

Red Eye

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Red Eye

A red eye or red beer is a cocktail made with beer and V8 juice and served in a chilled glass. It's often used to cure a hangover.
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1
Author: Bev Gillihan

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 oz.) beer can or bottle
  • 1 (5.5 oz.) can tomato-vegetable juice cocktail
  • 1 dash Louisiana-style hot sauce
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pinch seasoning salt

Instructions

  • In a frozen beer mug, combine tomato-vegetable juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning salt. Pour in cold beer and enjoy!

Raspberry Truffle

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Raspberry Truffle

Your favorite hot chocolate, Irish cream, and raspberry liqueur makes one delicious cocktail!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Irish
Servings: 1
Author: Cheryl Gillihan-Killian

Ingredients

  • 1 oz. Knickerbockers Irish Cream whiskey
  • 1/2 oz. raspberry liqueur
  • hot chocolate
  • whipped cream

Instructions

  • Add Knickerbockers Irish Cream and raspberry liqueur to a cup of your favorite hot chocolate, stir well.
  • Top with lots of whipped cream.

Raspberry Spritzer

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Raspberry Spritzer

A refreshing low-calorie alternative to sugar-laden sodas.
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 2 c. seltzer
  • 2/3 c frozen raspberries
  • 3 oz. raspberry-flavored syrup or Chambord
  • Ice cubes
  • 2 sprigs fresh mint for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine seltzer, raspberries, and raspberry-flavored syrup or Chambord in a small pitcher.
  • Pour into a glass/glasses filled with ice and garnish with mint if desired.

Purple Cow

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Purple Cow

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Purple Cow

Purple is my daughter Nevaeh’s favorite color, so naturally this is her favorite drink! If you would like to make an Orange Cow use orange soda. If you would like a Brown Cow use root beer.
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Author: Nevaeh Lei McNutt

Ingredients

  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Grape soda

Instructions

  • Put 2 scoops vanilla ice cream in a tall glass.
  • Fill glass to the top with cold grape soda.
  • Stir to a pleasing purple, Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

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Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, steamed milk, and espresso topped with homemade whipped cream, Enjoy!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 c. espresso or 2/3 c. strong brewed coffee)
  • 2 c. milk (your choice - skim, 1%, 2%, whole, soy, etc.)
  • 2 T. canned pumpkin (or 1 tsp. Torani Pumpkin Spice syrup)
  • 1-2 T. sugar or sugar substitute
  • 2 T. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice plus more for topping
  • Whipped cream if desired

Instructions

  • Brew your espresso.
  • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan combine milk, canned pumpkin or syrup, sugar, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Warm over medium heat, whisking constantly, until hot and frothy. Do not bring to a boil.
  • Pour the espresso into a large mug or two small mugs.
  • Pour the pumpkin-spiced milk over the espresso.
  • Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon, if desired.

Perfect Iced Tea

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Perfect Iced Tea

"A refreshing summer treat!!"
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 quarts

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 tea bags
  • 2 quarts cold water divided
  • 1/2 c. granulated sugar

Instructions

  • In a 2-quart sauce pan, bring 1 quart of water to a boil. Add the tea bags. Remove the pan from the heat and allow tea to steep for 10 minutes. Discard tea bags.
  • Put 1 quart of cold water into a 2-quart pitcher. Pour hot tea over the cold water.
  • Add sugar or honey if desired, stirring to dissolve it completely.
  • Place in the refrigerator to cool. Serve over ice and garnish with a slice of lemon.
  • Cook's Note: Use 1/4 cup honey instead of sugar if desired.

Peppermint Patty

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Peppermint Patty

Turn an average hot chocolate into a delicious after dinner drink!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Irish
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
  • 1/2 oz. Dark Crème De Cacao
  • 1/4 oz. Crème De Menthe
  • 1 c. Hot chocolate
  • Whipped cream
  • Chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions

  • Add liquors to an old-fashioned glass; fill with your favorite hot chocolate and stir.
  • Top with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings; serve immediately.

Peach Iced Tea

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Peach Iced Tea

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Peach Iced Tea

Nothin' says summer like a tall glass of homemade, ice cold, Peach Tea! Keep your drinks insect -free with these adorable cupcake covers, adds a pop of color to your table too!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 quarts

Ingredients

  • 3 (12 oz.) cans peach juice
  • 2 quarts un-sweetened tea
  • 1 c. granulated sugar
  • 1/4 c. lemon juice
  • fresh mint leaves for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a 3-quart pitcher and chill.
  • Serve over ice and garnish with a peach slice or sprig of mint.

Peach Ice Cream Soda

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Peach Ice Cream Soda

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Peach Ice Cream Soda

"Beat the summer heat with our cool and refreshing peach soda!"
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 3 peaches peeled and sliced
  • 3 T. honey
  • 4 heaping scoops Vanilla ice cream
  • 3 c. Talking Rain sparkling peach nectarine water

Instructions

  • In a medium-size bowl, mix peaches with honey and let sit 15 minutes until liquid is released and honey is dissolved.
  • In a food processor, chop peach/honey mixture until coarsely puréed.
  • Divide peach mixture into 4 glasses. Top with a scoop of ice cream and sparkling water. Serve with a straw and spoon.

Peach Berry Shake

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Peach Berry Shake

My husband and I loved the Peach Berry Shakes at TCBY so much, that we tried to re-create our version of the shake. I think we've come pretty close to the original, Enjoy!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c. milk
  • 3 c. vanilla ice cream or vanilla frozen yogurt
  • 1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen peaches peeled and sliced
  • 1 c. fresh or frozen strawberries unsweetened
  • 3/4 c. vanilla, peach or strawberry yogurt

Instructions

  • In a blender, combine all the ingredients, cover and process until smooth.
  • Pour into chilled glasses, garnish with whip cream, and serve immediately.

Party Punch

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Party Punch

A refreshing holiday punch you can serve year round!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16

Ingredients

  • 1 (46 oz.) can pineapple juice chilled
  • 1 (32 oz.) bottle cranberry juice cocktail chilled
  • 1 (1liter) bottle ginger ale chilled
  • 1 orange thinly sliced, optional
  • fresh cranberries optional

Instructions

  • Combine chilled pineapple juice, cranberry juice and ginger ale in a large punch bowl.
  • Garnish with orange slices and fresh cranberries.

Mimosas

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Mimosas

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Mimosas

"Serve mimosas for breakfast or brunch."
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: French
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle Good quality champagne chilled
  • 1 quart orange juice chilled
  • Grand Marnier Orange Liqueur chilled (optional)

Instructions

  • Chill champagne flutes or tall glassware.
  • Fill each glass with equal amounts of champagne and orange juice. Pour a splash of Grand Marnier Liqueur on top.
  • Garnish with a sprig of mint, a slice of orange, or strawberry.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

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Mexican Hot Chocolate

Not your ordinary cup of hot cocoa! Mexican chocolate is laced with cinnamon and chili powder, giving it fabulous flavor!
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. Mexican chocolate or bittersweet chocolate chopped
  • 3 1/2 c low-fat milk
  • 3 T. granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. almond extract
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 4 cinnamon sticks for garnish
  • Whipped cream for garnish

Instructions

  • Stir chocolate, milk, sugar, almond extract, cinnamon, chili powder and salt in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until chocolate has melted and milk is barely simmering around interior rim of pan, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Pour hot chocolate into mugs. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a cinnamon stick for swirling.