Champagne punche or fruit juice mix recipies

You can google for Mimosa or Bucks fizz - really popular fruit juice-sparking wine cocktail. Don't like them myself, but many people really like them, especially at a brunch or something like that.

There are many Champagne brews listed in old books.

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CHAMPAGNE PUNCH I.

Pare, core and slice a small fresh pineapple very thin. Halve the slices crosswise, put in chilled punch bowl, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup very fine sugar. Let stand about 30 minutes. Then toss the pineapple well to coat with the syrup. Add 1 cup rum, 1 cup brandy or Cognac, 1/4 cup Curacao, and juice of 3 lemons. Add finely grated zest of 1 lemon and

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PARK AVENUE CHAMPAGNE COOLER

Put two heaping tablespoons of cracked ice in a cold mixing glass. Add 4 dashes of grenadine, juice of 1/2 orange, 2 tablespoons Curacao, and 1 tablespoon marischino liqueur. Stir well. Strain into a cold, tall, large glass and fill with chilled Champagne. Garnish with a thin slice of orange and a sprig of fresh mint.

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Needless to say, you can use just about any half-way decent Champagne or sparkling wine in these, as all of the additions will mask any delicate flavors of the wine.

I was fortunate enough to live in the UK when I was young and impressionable. Apparently, Bucks Fizz contains a reference to Buckinghamshire, abbreviated "Bucks"...

Anyway, if I was making a spiked punch at breakfast, I'd either do a Bucks Fizz with Tropicana fresh orange juice and a good $12 dry sparkler, or, if it was cold enough, I'd make a batch of Glögg....

Dana

Oh, almost forgot... my Bucks Fizz recipe...

Approximately 50/50 Orange Juice/Sparkling Wine. Adjust to taste.

It's not like making a molé sauce. There's a lot of tolerance. If someone complains, add more orange juice or sparkling wine until they shut up. If they keep complaining, then don't invite them again, they're obviously not a good guest.

Dana