Punch - as in "packing a"... (Punch)

Member Name: nikkisly

Product:	Punch
Date:	13/11/02 (1115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mmmmmmmmm!

Disadvantages: Stronger than they taste!

I've never been much of a drinker. For a start, I don't really like the taste of alcohol and secondly, I'm one of those poor unfortunates who gets drunk very easily. (One sniff of the barman's apron and you're likely to find me dancing naked on the nearest table!) However, I do like alcohol when it's served in hot drinks, especially at Christmas, and the following are my favourite winter warmers:

Mulled Wine.

This makes an ideal welcome drink at a winter party.

To serve ten people you need:

1 bottle of red wine, preferably claret.
Half a bottle of port - the cheaper the better
Brown sugar to taste (which gives you the ideal opportunity to keep taking a regular swig as you're making it!)
About 1 teaspoonful of freshly grated nutmeg - or a pinch of dried nutmeg if you really must
2 cinnamon sticks.
1 pint (600 ml) of boiling water.
Very thinly sliced orange for decoration

Heat the port, wine and spices over a very low heat until hot, but do not allow to boil. Remove from the heat. Add the sugar and boiling water and stir well until all the sugar has completely dissolved. Strain through a sieve into a punchbowl and float a few orange slices on top.

Tip: Allow to cool slightly before serving, otherwise you may find that your wineglasses crack. Alternatively, slightly warm the glasses first.

The next drink has always been known as "Motch" in our house - I suspect a corruption of Mocha, a sort of chocolaty coffee. Again, it's a nice welcoming drink, although best served in individual mugs rather than from a punch bowl.

For each person you need:

1 teaspoon of cocoa (not drinking chocolate)
1 teaspoon of instant coffee - if you happen to have chocolate flavoured coffee to hand, that's even better!
1 shot of Brandy or Tia Maria or a half shot of each.
2 teaspoons of sugar (adjust to taste)
Skimmed milk
Boi
ling
water

Mix all the ingredients (with the exception of the boiling water) in a mug making sure that the cocoa is mixed to a smooth paste; otherwise you get horrible lumps at the bottom. (You should add about as much skimmed milk as you would to an ordinary cup of tea and, yes, it does have to be skimmed otherwise you get globules of fat floating about on the top of your drink which looks revolting!). Fill the mug with boiling water and stir extra well before serving.

This also makes a nice summer drink. Make it in a cocktail shaker - or even a pancake maker - and refrigerate until ice cold. Shake energetically immediately before serving then pour into a tall glass, adding a scoop of coffee or vanilla ice cream if you like. (For some reason, it just doesn't work with chocolate ice cream, more's the pity!)


Finally, at any party, there are likely to be children, teetotallers or designated drivers. The following is a non-alcoholic fruit punch that serves about ten people. At parties, I always make sure that it is clearly labelled "Non-Alcoholic".

To serve 10 people you need:

1 pint (600 ml) orange juice
1 pint (600 ml) apple juice
A quarter of a pint (150ml) of water
Half a teaspoon of ground ginger
Half a teaspoon of mixed spice
Brown sugar to taste

Heat all the ingredients to a gentle boil, stirring well and simmering slowly for five minutes. Strain into a punchbowl and serve immediately.

If you really can't do without the alcohol, you can add a bottle of white wine and a slug of white rum at about four and a half minutes (remember not to label it "Non-Alcoholic"!). And, if you prefer to serve this drink cold, mix all the ingredients, with the exception of the water, heat as before, allow to cool, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Serve in tall glasses over crushed ice - and, if you want to go really mad, add half a bottle of sparkli
ng lemonade and stir gently immediately before serving.


Enjoy - but be sure to drink safely at Christmas.

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