The “Recipe”

Are you looking for a new or different drink to serve at your Christmas open house or New Year's Eve party? In the "spirit" of the holiday, let me pass along a tasty option that some friends shared with me over twenty years ago. (Shout out to the Schafers and a nod to "The Waltons" for the name!)  It's become a tradition in our house - perhaps it will in your house too!

This tasty drink can be served formally in a festive punch bowl or doled out one drink at a time straight from your freezer and fridge. (Sweet and smooth, it packs more of a "punch" than you would expect, so warn your guests to be cautious if you serve it using the never-ending punch bowl approach.)

Enjoy! Happy holidays to you and yours!


The “Recipe”: A Sheffield Family Holiday Tradition

Ingredients:

4 teabags
7 cups water (divided)
1 large can frozen lemonade – thawed in refrigerator
1 large can frozen orange juice – thawed in refrigerator
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups Amaretto (you can use the cheap stuff for this)

Additional items:

Two-liter bottles of Sprite or 7-UP

Four 32-oz plastic cups (like the kind that extra-large drinks come in at fast food restaurants) or similar sized containers for freezing the mixture

Directions:

Begin by boiling 2 cups of the water and steeping the 4 teabags for 10 minutes. Remove teabags.

In a very large bowl, mix the hot tea with the thawed lemonade, orange juice, and sugar. Add the Amaretto and the remaining 5 cups of water. Mix thoroughly.

Divide this mixture by pouring equally into the four large cups. Cover the top of each cup with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Freeze the cups for at least 12 hours.

To serve:

By the glass:
Use an ice cream scoop to place one scoop of the frozen mixture into a large glass. Top with Sprite/7-UP and stir.

As punch:
Run warm water over the sides of one plastic cup to slightly thaw and loosen the frozen mixture enough that it will slip out into a large punch bowl. Mash or chop with a large spoon or whisk. Cover with a full 2-liter bottle of Sprite