Beverages at exchange

[Annebo]

Hi Robin,

Any suggestions on what beverages to serve at an exchange? I know I'll have soda available, but what alcoholic choices would be good?

Thanks!

Annebo

[Robin]

This is sort of an open question... what is your crowd like? What age group are they? I always serve sodas, (reg and diet), wine, and have a pot of apple cider brewing on the stove. (Makes the house smell nice, with the nutmeg and cinnamon.) You could offer beer too, depends on what type of food you're serving.Good Luck at your next exchange.

[Jennifer]

Hi. Last year we were not permitted to have alcohol due to the rental agreement where I lived (we rented the Rec. Center). but this year we are planning to have coffee (really good coffee, like Illy, Jamacian Blue Mountain, etc), tea, spiced cider, wine (you can use mulling spices to add a little zing to your red wine) and festive holiday drinks. I found a great book called 'Holiday Cocktails' by Jessica STrand, that I plan to use as a resource.

Another fun thing to have is a holiday punch. I like to make ice rings with holiday greenery, cranberries, etc. The nice thing about punch is that it's easy, you can have it alcohol free or spiked and it's always gone at the end of the party. I have some recipes for punch if you would like!

I should note that most of the people attending are very responsible so most will only have one alcoholic beverage or will have their husbands/partners pick them up.

[Robin]

Specifically, what kind of "holiday greenery" are you putting in your ice rings? Thanks.

[Mallory]

I'm planning a 4 - 6pm exchange on a Sunday this year. It's my first exchange and I was thinking of a hot buffet of appetizers, champagne, mulled wine ( I have a GREAT recipe that I got from Biltmore in Asheville, NC) and a festive punch. It covers alcoholic and non alcoholic and if people are on a diet, they can always have water, or maybe I'll stash some Perrier in the fridge, just in case.

[Jennifer]

Can you post some of your holiday punch recipes??

Thanks

[Mallory]

This recipe is called Roxie's Punch, and I think it's from a Susan Branch book, but I'm not sure.

8 cups cold water
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate (not sure what size) undiluted
1 dash red food coloring

Mix and chill. Garnish with loose citrus slices & strawberries, or freeze fruit into an ice ring. Serve ice cold. I've had this before and it's great.