Mock Champagne

Ok guys...THIS.  In July my middle sister and I hosted a bridal shower for our baby sister.  (Sniff...sniff... :*)...our little baby is growing up.)  This was the fancy little drink we served at the luncheon.  It is SO pretty and fancy you really feel like you're special.  Well, you ARE special...but having a sparkly little fancy drink just makes you feel EXTRA special.  I served it in disposable champagne glasses and all around the room you could see folks sipping their "champagne" with their pinky slightly lifted.  It was great.

1 can frozen white grape juice concentrate, thawed but still chilly

2-2 liters Canada Dry ginger ale, chilled

1 container fresh raspberries

To a drink dispenser or punch bowl, gently combine the white grape juice concentrate and ginger ale.  Stir it gently because you don't want to lose all of the carbonation.

 

That's it.  Seriously.  It's the best tasting and best looking "punch" you'll ever serve.  When you're ready for your guests to enjoy, place 2-3 raspberries per glass and fill with "champagne".  Or you can simply place the raspberries in a pretty little bowl with mini tongs and let the guests add the berries themselves.  Whatever floats your boat.   Can you say baby shower?  Bridal shower?  Christmas Eve?  New Year's Eve? 

"Homemade" Hot Chocolate

I say "homemade" in quotes because it's not from a package that you just rip open and dump into some hot water.  But it's not exactly made from scratch either.  You'll see.

6 cups cold milk

1 pkg. (4-serving size) instant chocolate pudding mix...(told ya'.)

homemade whipped cream or mini marshmallows (cool whip will do...if you must)

Pour milk into a medium saucepan.  Add dry pudding mix and beat with a wire whisk for 1 minute.  Bring the chocolate mixture just to a simmer on medium heat, stirring frequently with the whisk.  Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Hot Spiced Cider

Hot Spiced Cider.  If you've never tried it, you MUST this Fall.  When I worked at the bank, my boss made the mistake of telling me that she didn't like cider.  I was like "Oh no you didn't just say that!"  So the next day I came to work with a determined look on my face, a bag of ingredients, and a coffee maker.  I made my spiced cider, gave her a mug full, and much to her surprise she LOVED it.  While she still doesn't care for plain cider, she is now a Hot Spiced Cider fan.  And I think you will be too once you give this recipe a shot.

Now, there are two ways you can make it.  If you have a regular coffee pot you can use it to make this quickly.  If you are like me and have a keurig brewer, you can make it in the crock pot.  If you are making it in a coffee maker, just be sure to clean it immediately after you're done by running a plain water cycle through before using it for coffee again.

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. whole allspice

1 tsp. whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick, broken in half

1/4 tsp. salt

1 pinch ground nutmeg

2 quarts apple cider

For Coffee Maker:

Place a filter in the basket of your coffee maker.  To the filter, add brown sugar, allspice, cloves, cinnamon stick, salt, and nutmeg.  Pour the apple cider into the coffee maker where the water usually goes.  Brew and serve hot.

For Crock Pot:

In piece of cheese cloth or a large coffee filter, add the brown sugar, allspice, cloves, cinnamon stick, salt, and nutmeg and tie with butchers string to make a spice pouch.  Add the cider to a crock pot, throw the spice pouch in, cover and cook on high until hot.  Before serving, stir well to make sure the spice pouch completely infused the cider.  Serve hot.