Christmas Punch: "Raspberry Shrub" (non-alcohol)

A raspberry-based Christmas punch seems fitting for this particular part of Washington state, considering that Whatcom County - the county in which I live -  boasts the largest annual raspberry harvest in the United States.

In case you're wondering about the term "shrub," the name of this and other drinks in the "shrub" category come from the Arabic word sharab which means, literally, "to drink." Shrubs are an old time beverage, the word "shrub" (as descriptive of a drink) going back to at least 1747 where the Oxford Dictionary defined it as, "..."any of various acidulated beverages made from the juice of fruit, sugar, and other ingredients..."

Classic shrub recipes often call for the addition of vinegar or brandy to give it zing, but the following recipe relies on a can of lemonade concentrate and ginger ale for that.

Ingredients:

• 4 pkgs (10 oz. each) frozen raspberries
  

• 1 can (6 oz.) frozen lemonade concentrate (do not add water)
  

• 2 quarts ginger ale

Preparation:

• Thaw raspberries, then cook all four packages in a saucepan for ten minutes.


• Force through strainer with wooden spoon while still hot


• Allow to cool


• Add lemonade concentrate


• Just before serving, add the ginger ale, well-chilled


• Serve over ice.

Makes 24 servings of about 1/2 cup each.

Chocolate Christmas Punch

A non-alcohol punch great for the kids - but an adult might want to add a splash of Bailey's Irish Cream in their cup--

Chocolate Punch

INGREDIENTS:

• (4) 1-oz. sq semisweet chocolate

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 cups hot water

• 2 qts. milk

• 1-1/2 t. vanilla extract

• 1 qt. vanilla ice cream

• 1 qt. club soda

• 1/2 pint heavy cream, whipped

• Ground cinnamon

PREPARATION:

In a large saucepan combine chocolate and sugar with the hot water. Bring to a boil, stirring for 2 minutes. Reduce heat and add milk. Beat in vanilla with a rotary egg beater or whisker. Remove from heat.

Chill, then pour into a punch bowl over the ice cream, and add the club soda.

Top with whipped cream and dust with cinnamon.

Yield: 12 servings.

More Holiday Punch Recipes

Hot spiced Cranberry Punch (non-alcoholic)

• 4 cups cranberry juice


• Honey to taste


• Freshly grated nutmeg (substitute prepared if that's all you have)


• Cinnamon sticks

Heat cranberry juice, cloves and honey in a saucepan. Stir until honey dissolves and juice is hot. Season with nutmeg and serve in a mug (preferably clear) with a cinnamon stick.

The Apple Cinammon (easy non-alcoholic)

• 2 oz cranberry juice


• 4 oz chilled apple cider

Fill a wine goblet with ice. Add 2 oz. cranberry juice and 4 oz. chilled apple cider. Stir to mix. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Wassail Bowl (also known as "Lamb's Wool" - alcohol)

Note: You may, if you wish, omit the baked apples all together, and start at step 3. Or you may pick up a jar of spiced apple rings, and float those in the punchbowl, instead of the baked apples (Haggen may have spice apple rings - that's where I've found them in the past).

• 3 large cooking apples


• 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar


• 4 cups apple cider


• 2 cups sherry (not cooking sherry - Harvey's Bristol Cream, or other)


• 1/4 cup granulated sugar


• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg


• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


• 3 to 4 slices of lemon

1.) Preheat oven to 350°

2.) Core apples and arrange in shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake until apples are tender (20 to 25 minutes). Set aside.

3.) Heat cider in a saucepan over low heat, bringing it slowly to a boil. Add sherry, sugar, spices and lemon slices. Stir until sugar dissolves; cover tightly and let stand over very low heat for 3-4 minutes. Do not boil again.

4.) Remove the lemon slices and pour into a punch bowl. Garnish with baked apples.

Makes 6 servings.

Cranberry-Citrus Christmas Punch

Cranberry Punch Recipe:

• 2 cans frozen cranberry juice, prepared*


• 1 can frozen orange juice, prepared*


• 2 16 fluid ounce bottles of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda


• Add fresh or frozen cranberries and oranges slices

Combine liquids, add cranberries and sliced oranges.

For an alcohol based version: add gin or vodka.

*or equivalent bottled juice