`Tis the season for sipping. And if you`re like most other people, the holidays come with a string of parties in tow.
To help keep the season merry, party hosts should remember to add an important category to this year`s party checklist: plenty of appealing drinks for designated drivers, those people who agree to limit their intake of alcohol and take responsibility for driving companions who choose to drink.
The party can take its cue from bars and restaurants, which are paying more attention to the needs of their non-imbibing patrons. Some have gone to serving ”mocktails,” special mixed non-alcoholic drinks that mimic common spirited offerings.
PEACH LADY
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 cup
1/2 cup chopped canned or fresh peaches
2 tablespoons simple syrup, recipe follows
1 tablespoon each: lemon juice, grenadine syrup, pineapple juice
2-4 ice cubes
1. Put all ingredients, except ice cubes, into blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. Add ice cubes. Cover and blend only until ice is cracked.
Simple syrup: Put 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water into small saucepan. Heat to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Continue boiling for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool.
TROPICAL SLUSH
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
1 package (10 ounces) frozen sweetened strawberries, thawed
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
1 can (6 ounces) frozen limeade concentrate
1/2 cup water
10 ice cubes
1. Put all ingredients, except ice cubes, into blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. With blender running, add ice cubes, 1 at a time, through opening in lid. Blend until slushy.
HOT BUTTERED COFFEE
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Freezing time: Several hours
Yield: 6 to 7 servings
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1/3 cup sifted confectioners` sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pint vanilla or chocolate ice cream
Hot, strong coffee
Cinnamon sticks, optional
1. Beat butter or margarine for 30 seconds in a bowl. Add sifted confectioners` sugar and cinnamon. Beat until well-combined. Add ice cream. Beat until smooth. Transfer ice cream mixture to a freezer container. Cover and freeze.
2. For each serving, spoon about 1/4 to 1/3 cup ice cream mixture into a mug. Add 1/2 cup hot coffee. Stir well. Serve with cinnamon sticks, if desired.
RUBY RED SALTY DOG
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 serving
3/4 cup unsweetened pink grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon grenadine syrup
Lime, salt, ice
1. Stir together grapefruit juice and grenadine. To make a salt-rimmed glass, rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge or dip into lime juice to moisten; invert into a dish of salt. Fill glass with ice. Pour grapefruit mixture over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
DANDY SHANDY
Preparation time: 2 minutes
Yield: One 12-ounce serving
3/4 cup chilled ginger ale
3/4 cup non-alcohol beer, chilled
Ice, optional
1. In a tall glass, combine ginger ale and non-alcohol beer. Stir gently to mix. Add ice, if desired.
