“The holiday season is one for gathering. Punches are a quick, easy way to let your guests serve themselves.”  Drinkoftheweek.com

What healthy beverages will you be making over the holiday season?

They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute.  (Job 21:12 NIV)

I did the cranberry tea recipe the first week of December, then the eggnog recipe last Tuesday.  Jerry suggested that I stay with a beverage theme for this week and he actually requested a holiday punch recipe.  Now, I know there are dozens, if not hundreds, of holiday punch recipes available using everything from sugar-laced juices to champagne and sherbet.  I have a few punch recipes that I’ve used for bridal and baby showers, but I didn’t necessarily think they would “fill the bill” for a holiday punch.

I wanted to make this punch recipe simple with easy to find ingredients.  I went to a local Walmart and sauntered down the juice aisle.  I was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered.  There, amidst the high fructose sweetened “fake” juice drinks, I found organic, all fruit juices in glass bottles, even!  Santa Cruz makes a berry nectar that contains all organic fruit juices and I know that is very tasty.  Pop one of those in the cart.  Lakewood is another reputable and safe brand.  They had an organic, pomegranate, anti-oxidant blend of juices that looked good.  Another bottle in the cart.  (It was also more reasonably priced than the 100% pomegranate juice, which most people would gasp over.)

Pineapple juice always adds a nice touch to a punch.  I bought the 100% juice, not from concentrate.  A little bubbly also gives punch “some punch.”  (Love the pun…and me.)  There were a few to choose from in this well-stocked juice aisle.  I bought Kristian Regale sparkling lingonberry-apple juice.  It looked a bit different than the regular sparkling grape juice.  Okay, one more ingredient and that should do it.  I wanted to add some type of sorbet or ice cream to the punch to give it more body and keep it cold during a party.  All of the sorbets at Walmart contain sugar and corn syrup.  If you’re willing to lower your standards a bit for the holidays, then they would work fine.  I left the store without any.  Cascadian Farms used to make organic sorbets sweetened with fruit juice.  I can no longer find those.  So, I choose Julie’s organic blackberry ice cream.  Her products are now readily available in supermarkets in the frozen area of the health food section.  What a treat!  It really added to the punch, although it did lighten the color.  By adding the ice cream, the color went from a dark berry color to a light pinkish, purple.  Don’t be put off by the color.  It still tasted great.  Enjoy!

Prayer Power
Father, we bless our readers with love, joy and peace during this special time of year when we celebrate the birth of Your Son, Jesus.

Link of the Day
Holiday Berry Punch

Blessings on you as you enjoy some holiday punch.

“Because eggnog is a holiday staple, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without it.”  Eggnog.ws

When was the last time you enjoyed some homemade eggnog?

She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand. (Job 39:14; NIV)

I really didn’t know much of the history behind this pleasurable holiday beverage.  Growing up on a dairy farm meant that eggnog was a common treat though.  We raised our own chickens, and of course, had our own milk and cream from those black and white beauties in the barn.  One memory that still stands out in my mind about eggnog revolves around my cousin Butch.  Butch was much older than I was and he lived with us at various times while working as a hired hand on the farm.  One morning he cracked an egg in a glass.  Poured in some milk, a little sugar and a smidge of vanilla extract.  He stuck a fork in the glass and gave it a few stirs.  Then he handed the glass to me and said, “Drink it straight down and don’t stop.”  Even that experience has never deterred me from drinking eggnog.

By the way, I’ve found it spelled eggnog and egg nog.  Not sure who’s right on that front.  Various stories abound around the inception of this winter toddy.  However, the consensus says that eggnog is a tradition that was brought to America from Europe.  Eggnog is related to various milk and wine punches that had been concocted long ago in the “Old World”. However, in America a new twist was put on the theme. Rum was used in the place of wine. In Colonial America, rum was commonly called “grog”, so the name eggnog is likely derived from the very descriptive term for this drink, “egg-and-grog”, which corrupted to egg’n'grog and soon to eggnog. At least this is one version…

Others say that the “nog” of eggnog comes from the word “noggin”. A noggin was a small, wooden, carved mug. It was used to serve drinks at the table in taverns.  The true story might be a mixture of the two and eggnog was originally called “egg and grog in a noggin”. That was a term that required shortening if there ever was one.

Most eggnog recipes call for some form of liquor.  We never had liquor in our house so I have never used it when making eggnog.  There are various ways of making this creamy beverage too.  Some recipes say to separate the eggs, beat the yolks with the cream and sweetener and then beat the whites and fold them in.  I’ve never done that but I tried it last night and did not like it.  It was too frothy and foamy.  Most all recipes call for sugar but I’ve developed a recipe using honey.  The organic ice cream is optional but adds a nice twist.  And yes, eggnog uses raw eggs.  Since I buy organically raised eggs from free-roaming chickens, I have no concerns over using raw eggs.  However, if that’s not something you’re comfortable doing, by all means have a cup of tea instead.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for the incredible, edible egg.  May we all continue to remember the reason for the season is Your son, Jesus.

Link of the Day
Holiday Eggnog

Blessings on you as you enjoy some holiday eggnog.

“Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, a very good source of dietary fiber, and a good source of manganese and vitamin K.”  George Mateljan

What one thing can you do to this holiday season to stay in good health?

My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.  (James 3:12; NIV)

As many of you know, I recently experienced the loss of my Daddy.   The last two weeks have been what many would call surreal.  I’m now home in Virginia attempting to get back into the “swing of things.”  Admittedly life will never be the same.  Those of you who have suffered the loss of a parent, a spouse, a child, or other loved one have a clear understanding of that fact.   But life does go on and so must I.  In time, I may post some of my thoughts about what transpired and how we as a family stood together during that tumultuous time.

Last month I did a couple of crockpot recipes.  We’re now into the Christmas season and thoughts (and taste buds) gravitate toward special holiday dishes.  Today’s recipe originally came from our dear friend, Diane Chandler.  I’ve made a few tweaks to the recipe along with using the crockpot to “steep” the tea and keep it warm for Christmas company.

The recipe is pretty and festive and smells great while heating.  Cranberries and Christmas has such a nice ring to it.  The peak season for the pretty red berry is between October and December.  Don’t give up on the cranberry now that Thanksgiving is behind us.  There are many ways to enjoy it even into the new year.  A cousin of the blueberry, this bright red, tart berry can still be found growing wild as a shrub.  When cultivated, it’s grown on low trailing vines in sandy bogs.

Cranberries have long been valued for their ability to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Now, recent studies suggest that cranberries may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health, and help to prevent the formation of kidney stones.   There are many other benefits being attributed to this little red berry.  When buying cranberries, I’ve noticed that organic berries have much more flavor and color than commercial berries.

When buying cranberry juice, beware of the popular brand of “cocktail.”  Most commercial cranberry juices contain sugar, corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup.  If you want to drink cranberry juice to receive health benefits, buy organic, pure cranberry juice in a glass bottle.  Knudsens and Santa Cruz are two acceptable brands.  I’ve also added a small amount of cranberry concentrate in the recipe.  This is also pure cranberry juice without any added sweetener.  The last time I bought this, I bought it from Dynamic Health Laboratories.   Other brands are found in the health food section of the grocery store.  Enjoy your cranberry tea.

Prayer Power
Father we thank You for this season and this time of year to be reminded of the birth of Your Son.  May we seek Your perspective as we walk through these next several weeks.

Link of the Day
Cranberry Tea

Blessings on you as you enjoy some holiday cranberry tea with friends and loved ones.