Beverages and Odds and Ends

Steak and Seafood title card for beverages and odds and ends, photos coming soon

Every family recipe book has a section of odds and ends, and Sandra Mills's is full of party favorites: a champagne punch with a fruit ice mold that never waters it down, a tart cranberry fruit punch, a sparkling white grape punch, holiday eggnog two ways, Charleston iced tea, a Russian spiced tea mix, a blender strawberry daiquiri and a homemade cocoa mix she keeps in a jar.

There is also a quick refrigerator strawberry jam and homemade applesauce two ways, the traditional Foley mill method and the modern microwave one.

9 beverages and odds and ends

  • Strawberry Jam (Refrigerator)35 min total | About 1 1/2 cups

    A small batch of fresh strawberry jam made with just strawberries and sugar, boiled 18 minutes, with no pectin. Makes about 1 1/2 cups; keep refrigerated.

  • Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix5 min total | Mix for 1 quart (4 cups) of cocoa

    A homemade hot cocoa mix of cocoa powder, powdered milk, sugar and salt. Each batch makes one quart of cocoa; store extra in a jar.

  • Charleston Iced Tea1 hr 10 min total | About 2 quarts

    Iced tea steeped with a cinnamon stick and slices of orange and lemon for an hour, served over ice with fresh mint.

  • Spiced Tea (Russian Tea) Mix5 min total | About 3 cups of mix

    Classic Russian tea mix of Tang, instant tea, lemonade mix, cinnamon and cloves, stirred into hot or cold water for spiced tea anytime.

  • Strawberry Daiquiri5 min total | About 4 drinks

    A frozen strawberry daiquiri blended from frozen limeade or lemonade, rum measured with the can, fresh strawberries and ice.

  • Champagne Punch6 hr 15 min total | About 1 1/2 gallons

    A party punch of ginger ale, champagne, apricot brandy and rainbow sherbet, served with a frozen fruit ice mold that won't dilute it.

  • Tart Fruit Punch and White Grape Punch10 min total | About 2 gallons (fruit punch)

    Two easy non-alcoholic party punches: a tart cranberry, orange and 7 UP punch, and a sparkling white grape juice punch with orange slices.

  • Holiday Eggnog (Basic and Quick)4 hr 20 min total | Serves 24 (basic) or 12 (quick)

    Two holiday eggnogs: a from-scratch party batch of egg yolks, sugar, milk, rum and whipped cream that serves 24, and a quick version with store-bought eggnog that serves 12.

  • Homemade Applesauce (Two Ways)45 min total | About 1 quart

    Two ways to make McIntosh applesauce: the traditional way, cooked with skins and pressed through a Foley food mill, or the modern way in the microwave with cinnamon red hots.

Common questions

How do I keep punch from getting watered down?
Use Sandra's ice mold: freeze ginger ale with sliced fruit in a mold and float it in the punch instead of ice cubes.
Do I need pectin for strawberry jam?
Not for her refrigerator jam. Strawberries and sugar boiled for 18 minutes set enough for a soft jam, kept in the refrigerator.
Is homemade eggnog safe?
The from-scratch recipe uses raw egg yolks. Use pasteurized eggs, or make her quick version with store-bought eggnog.

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