January 17, 2023

Best Ever Punch-Three Ways!

Summary

When was the last time you had a fabulous punch? Many years ago, my mom, Mama Gabe, did a reception for my cousin’s senior piano recital. (The man has mad skills.) Anyway, she made this punch. TO DIE FOR! This is no three-ingredient wonder, not that there’s anything wrong with those. It takes effort but, oh my goodness, is it worth it! In addition, not only can you use this recipe as a traditional punch but you can enjoy it two other ways! Bonus!

When was the last time you had a fabulous punch? Many years ago, my mom, Mama Gabe, did a reception for my cousin’s senior piano recital. (The man has mad skills.) Anyway, she made this punch. TO DIE FOR!  This is no three-ingredient wonder, not that there’s anything wrong with those. It takes effort but, oh my goodness, is it worth it! In addition, not only can you use this recipe as a traditional punch but you can enjoy it two other ways! Bonus!

It’s All About The Mash

I have never been a punch person because it all has soda and I am one of a tiny minority of people who cannot stand carbonation. But this recipe is special because it can be used as a refreshing dessert because it has so much fruit and juice. Just make a slushy out of the mash (the non-soda part) or eat it like Italian ice. Delicious! 

 

A Trip To The Tropics

 

Besides traditional punch and Italian ice, this mash makes for a wonderful, fancy adult frozen drink. We were inspired on a trip to the British Virgin Islands a few years ago where rum and coconut seemed to be everywhere. We decided that we liked a drink called the Painkiller and it gave us the idea to make a summer version of Mama’s punch. We call it a Kerith Chiller. All you do is take the mash and add rum (or rum flavoring) and coconut milk to taste. (Paper umbrellas optional.)

Regardless of how you decide to enjoy it, this recipe is awesome and is well worth the effort! Give it a try!

 

Mama Gabe’s Citrus Slush Punch

Boil:

6 C water

4 C sugar

 Add:

1 (12 oz) can frozen orange juice

1 (6 oz) can frozen lemonade

1 (46 oz) can pineapple juice

 In a blender or food processor, combine:

2 lemons (juice only)

3 pureed bananas

24 oz frozen strawberries

Combine both mixtures. 

Storage:

Package 8 cups of mash in gallon Ziplock bags. Double bag them.

Place them in the freezer on a flat surface.  Don’t put them directly on the wire shelving. I use scraps of foam board to separate the bags and to line the shelves. Stack no more than three high.

When they are frozen, store them vertically. 

To Serve:

Let the mash thaw until slushy. Otherwise, it will take too long, making for very weak punch. Add 1, 2-liter bottle of lemon-lime soda per Ziplock of mash.