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Pouring punches

For those who want their drinks without punch, non-alcoholic versions are just as tasty.

For those who want their drinks without punch, non-alcoholic versions are just as tasty. Ginger ale or Sprite can stand in for champagne, and juices, such as orange and apple, are substitutes for some liqueurs.

1 750-milliliter bottle fruity red Spanish wine such as Beaujolais or Rioja

1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup brandy

1/4 cup triple sec

3 to 4 tablespoons sugar (or more, depending on your taste)

3/4 cup club soda (optional)

1 lemon, rinsed and cut in 1/4-inch slices, any seeds removed

1 lime, rinsed and cut in 1/4-inch slices

1/2 Granny Smith apple, rinsed, seeded and cut into wedges

In a pitcher, mix together wine, orange juice, brandy, triple sec and sugar. Stir in club soda and fruit slices and wedges. Refrigerate until well-chilled. Serve in wine or other glasses with some of the fruits from the pitcher. Serve over ice cubes, if desired. Makes four servings.

Source: Los Angeles Daily News.

3 cups sweetened grape juice (white or red)

2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate

1 small orange, cut into half slices

1 small McIntosh or Cortland apple, cored and cut into 8 wedges, or 1 large peach, pitted and cut into 8 wedges

3/4 cup apple juice concentrate

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 small lemon, cut into half slices

3/4 cup seltzer or club soda

Combine fruit juices in a pitcher and stir in the sliced fruit. Refrigerate until cold. Just before serving, add seltzer or club soda. Serve over ice in wine glasses. Makes eight 5-ounce servings.

- Source: www.cooks.com

1 cup fresh lime juice

2 cups simple syrup (see note)

3 cups amber rum

4 cups orange juice

4 dashes bitters

Freshly grated nutmeg

In a pitcher, combine lime juice, simple syrup, rum and orange juice. Add a few dashes of bitters and some grated nutmeg to taste. Serve chilled over ice.

Serves 20.

- Source: www.allrecipes.com

1/2 gallon raspberry sherbet

2 750-milliliter bottles champagne, chilled

1 750-milliliter bottle sweet red wine such as Beaujolais or zinfandel

1 2-liter bottle ginger ale, chilled

Place frozen sherbet in center of a large punch bowl and add champagne and sweet red wine. Stir gently. (Sherbet will keep ingredients cold and slowly dissolve.) Pour in ginger ale and serve.

Serves 26.

- Source: www.allrecipes.com

1 750-milliliter bottle Southern Comfort

6 ounces lemon juice

1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 6-ounce can frozen orange juice concentrate

3 liters lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

2 drops red food coloring

1 orange, sliced into rounds

1 lemon, sliced into rounds

In a large punch bowl, combine Southern Comfort, lemon juice, lemonade concentrate and orange juice concentrate. Stir in lemon-lime soda, and add a few drops of red food coloring. Float orange and lemon slices for garnish.

Serves 30.

- Source: www.allrecipes.com