Beverage Ideas for Holiday Entertaining - Cooking Tips

Cranberry Tea

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 quarts water
• 1 pkg. cranberries (12 oz.)
• 3 oranges, juiced
• 2 lemons, juiced

• 2 cups sugar, adjust to taste
• 14 cloves, whole
• 3 cinnamon sticks

• Combine water and cranberries in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
• Stir in freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients, stir. Cover and allow to steep for 1 hour.
• Strain tea, reheat to serve. Serve hot. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and orange slices if desired.
  
  Steep: To leave an item, such as a tea bag, to soak in water that has just been boiled. The purpose is to add flavor to the liquid.

Holiday Spritzer

Ingredients:

• cranberry juice
• white grape juice

• sparkling mineral (fizz water)

• Try this simple spritzer for a non-alcohol alternative for your holiday get together. Combine equal parts cranberry juice, white grape juice, and sparkling mineral (fizz) water into a punch bowl. Add an ice ring (see directions below) to keep the spritzer chilled.

Holiday Wine

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/4 cups white grape juice, chilled

• 1 cup peach liqueur
• 1 bottle Red Bordeaux wine, chilled

• In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Stir constantly until sugar has dissolved.
• Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until chilled (approximately 2 hours).
• In punch bowl, combine grape juice, peach liqueur, wine, and cooled sugar and water mixture.
• Add an ice ring to the punch bowl to keep wine chilled (see directions below).
• Servings: 14 (4-ounce)

Holiday Ice Ring

Ingredients:

• Cranberries or your choice of hard fruit (i.e.: grapes)

• water
• 4 cup ring mold