Favorite Drink Recipes to Toast the Season with Your Family and Guests

Whether hosting an open house, family get-together, entertaining friends or planning a tree-trimming party, Patty Kinder of event company Bravo Productions provides a few of her family's favorite holiday beverage recipes that are sure to bring lots of compliments, as well as many refills.

(PRWEB) November 6, 2004 -- The holidays represent a time to enjoy family, friends, food, good cheers -- and perhaps even a little time off from work. Its a time of year when many of us rejoice in laughter, feel a sense of tranquility and peace, and count our blessings for all that we have. There is the fresh aroma of pine trees, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and cinnamon that alert our sense of smell in the home. And to toast all of these wonderful treasures, preparing seasonal drinks enhances the occasion.

Some of my fondest holiday memories growing up surround my mom and dad in the kitchen," said Patty Kinder, planner of events amd private parties for Bravo Productions, an award-winning, full-service event planning and production company specializing in staging corporate functions nationwide. I can remember my mom basting a turkey and my dad preparing a round of holiday cheer, including hot and cold beverages to warm the heart. And although my dad passed away nearly two years ago, my 85-year-old mom has kept many of our holiday traditions alive, each year incorporating her and my dads favorite non-alcoholic and alcoholic punches, hot beverages and drink recipes."

Whether hosting an open house, family get-together, entertaining friends or planning a tree-trimming party, serving some of these holiday beverages are sure to bring lots of compliments, as well as many refills. Kinder shares some of her familys recipes, as well as a few suggested by her colleagues.

TOM & JERRY
Take 3 fresh eggs. Beat yolks and whites separately. Add and blend 6 ounces granulated sugar to whites while beating. Add well-beaten yolks to whites. Stir in 6 drops of vanilla and 1/16 teaspoon baking soda. Put 2 tablespoons of this batter into a Tom & Jerry mug or teacup. Add 1 ½ ounces of Seagrams 7 Crown. Fill with boiling milk and sprinkle nutmeg on top.
15 Servings

EGGNOG PUNCH BOWL
Take 6 fresh eggs. Beat yolks and whites separately, adding ½ lb. sugar to whites and beat until stiff. Add well-beaten yolks to whites; beat thoroughly together. Stir in 1 ½ ounces rum. Add Seagrams 7 Crown, 1 pint of cream, 1 pint of milk. Stir ingredients well. Serve cold with grated nutmeg on top.
10 Servings

HOT BUTTERED RUM
Mix 2 teaspoons sugar with 2 tablespoons of hot water. Add 1 jigger (1.5 oz. - 2 oz.) dark rum and butter (size of marble.) Fill the cup with hot water.
Single Serving

CHRISTMAS CIDER
Add 1 gallon apple cider, a 5th of cream sherry, 1 cup cranberry juice, 1 cup raisins, 6-10 whole cloves, 3-5 cinnamon sticks and 6-10 allspice. Heat on low temperature, serve and enjoy!

WASSAIL
In a large pot, combine 2 quarts water and 2 cups sugar. Boil for 10 minutes. Add ½ tablespoons cloves, 3 cinnamon sticks and 1 ½ tablespoon candied ginger to liquid mixture and let stand in a warm place for 1-hour. Lift out spices with a straining spoon. Add 2 quarts of orange juice, ½ pint (1 cup) lemon juice and 1 gallon of apple cider. Boil on low heat. Serve hot.

HOT BUTTERED PINEAPPLE DRINK
In a large sauce pan, combine 1 (48 ounce) can pineapple juice, 2/3 cup of orange juice, 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, 2 teaspoons brown sugar and 4 cinnamon sticks. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the cinnamon sticks and serve hot. Makes 5 Cups

VANILLA COCOA
In a saucepan, combine 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar and ¼ cup cocoa. Add a few tablespoons of milk and heat over medium high heat, stirring constantly. When the sugar, cocoa and milk have formed a paste, add 1 quart of milk plus ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon cinnamon and heat until steaming. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream if desired. Serve immediately. 4 Servings

WARM AND SPICY AUTUMN PUNCH
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stud 2 whole oranges with cloves, and bake for 30 minutes. In a large saucepan, combine 6 cups apple juice and 1 cinnamon stick. Bring mixture to a boil, and reduce the heat to medium, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ cup honey, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 ¼ cups pineapple juice. Serve hot in a punch bowl with the clove-studded baked oranges floating on top. 16 Servings

CRANBERRY SUNRISE
Combine 1 ½ cups sugar and hot water. Stir until dissolved and cool. Add 1 cup fresh lemon juice and ½ cup fresh orange juice and stir thoroughly. Fill four glasses with ice. Pour juice mixture in each glass until half full. Pour cranberry juice slowly over the lemonade mixture so the drink is in layers of color. Garnish with orange slices for even a more colorful presentation. 4 Glasses

Whether you opt to try these recipes or create your own, theres nothing more pleasurable than creating fond memories and great traditions -- especially around the holidays," says Kinder

Headquartered in Southern California, Bravo Productions also has offices in Las Vegas, Colorado and Washington state. Kinder can be reached at patty@bravoevents-online.com.

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