Sparkling Cranberry Punch

Sparkling Cranberry Punch
1- 2 liter bottle Sprite, chilled
2 cans frozen cranberry juice concentrate, thawed but cold
1- 25.4oz bottle sparkling apple cider, chilled
fresh cranberries, opt

1. In a punch bowl, combine soda, concentrate, and cider.

Serve garnished with cranberries.

Wassail

Wassail
8 c apple cider
2 c orange juice
1- 46 oz can pineapple juice
2- 3" cinnamon sticks
1 T whole cloves
1/2 c honey

1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for two hours. Strain out cinnamon sticks and cloves before serving.

Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade
2 c sugar
1 c frozen strawberries, thawed
8 c water, separated
2 c lemon juice

1. In a medium pot, stir together sugar, strawberries, and 2 cups water; cook until sugar dissolves and strawberries begin to break down.
2. Remove strawberries and pulverize; return to pot and cook for a few more minutes.
3. Strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher and discard solids; stir in lemon juice and remaining 6 cups water.

Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate
1/2 c sugar
1 T cocoa powder
2 1/3 c milk*, separated

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cocoa powder; whisk in 1/3 cup milk (sometimes I use half & half or heavy whipping cream if I have it in stock).
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; boil for about a minute or two.
3. Take off the burner and stir in remaining 2 cups milk [this is when I pour it for my toddler]; then place back on burner and warm it up to the temperature you'd like.

*The percentage of milk you use will affect the creaminess of the hot chocolate. I mainly use 1% because that's what we buy and it works great for us.

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
2 c chocolate chips*
6 c milk**
1 1/2 c heavy whipping cream, half & half, or a combination of both
1 t vanilla
1- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

1. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring once or twice.
*Use dark, white, milk, semisweet, or a combination, depending on your taste.
**Use whole milk for a creamier texture.
Makes about 10 servings.

Lemonade

Lemonade
1/2 c water
1 c sugar
1 c fresh lemon juice
8 c cold water

1. In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil; stir in sugar until completely dissolved.
2. Pour in to pitcher and add lemon juice and water; stir until well mixed.

Ocean Water

Have you ever tried the Ocean Water slush at Sonic? Well, here's the yummy recipe!

Ocean Water
3 T water
2 T sugar
1 t coconut extract
2 drops blue food coloring
2- 12oz cans Sprite, cold
crushed ice

1. Combine water and sugar in small bowl. Microwave for 30-45 seconds and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow this mixture to cool.
2. Add coconut extract and food coloring to cooled mixture. Stir well.
3. Pour Sprite into a pitcher, and add blue mixture. Pour over ice.

I used green food coloring in honor of St. Patrick's Day, and I put the ocean water (with ice) in the blender to make it more like a slush.