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Deep Fried Brussels Sprouts

Deep Fried Brussels Sprouts

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How long have Brussels Sprouts dominated menus? Man, they are delicious…we’ve had them with bacon, reduced balsamic vinegar, blue cheese, garlic, pine nuts, honey-glazed, charred with parmesan, chili flakes, cream and even pomegranate seeds.

But the best way (especially if you are deep-frying a turkey or chicken) is deep-fried Brussels sprouts with sherry vinegar & capers. This is so easy if you already have a deep fryer read to go – as soon as you pull out the bird, just throw in the Brussels Sprouts, follow the directions below, and voila!

To make them, trim the stem off washed Brussels Sprouts and cut them in half. Heat peanut oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees – grapeseed and cottonseed oils also have a high smoke point (olive oil won’t work). Fry them for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown – before they get mushy inside. This all depends on the size – watch for the edges to get golden and crispy-looking, while the bulb is still green.

Remove them onto paper towels to dry up some of the grease and toss them with Sherry vinegar and kosher salt, then finish them with a handful of capers.

It’s important to use the best ingredients, which means Spanish Sherry – the place where Sherry originates – and when it comes to capers, smallest are best.

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Deep Fried Brussels Sprouts
Recipe type: side dish
Cuisine: American
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
Best way to cook Brussels sprouts (especially if you are deep-frying a turkey or chicken) is deep-fried with sherry vinegar & capers.
Ingredients
  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts
  • Peanut Oil for frying
  • Sherry
  • sea salt
  • capers
Instructions
  1. Trim the stem off washed Brussels Sprouts and cut them in half.
  2. Heat peanut oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees – grapeseed and cottonseed oils also have a high smoke point (olive oil won’t work).
  3. Fry them for 2-4 minutes or until golden brown – before they get mushy inside. This all depends on the size – watch for the edges to get golden and crispy-looking, while the bulb is still green.
  4. Remove them onto paper towels to dry up some of the grease and toss them with Sherry vinegar and kosher salt, then finish them with a handful of capers.
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No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie: Southern Charm on a Plate

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie: Southern Charm on a Plate

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No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie recipe

Being from the South/Midwest/Above Texas, the thought of a sweet potato pie with a pecan pie topping really appealed to me. Plus, this one even has “No Fail” in the recipe title!

If you’re looking for something a little easier, a little slower, with a nice Southern drawl, this one’s for you. Plus, it beats all the pies on the holiday table!

Watch the video above to see how easy it is.

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie 

Ingredients for 8 servings:

FILLING
  • 3/4 pound sweet potatoes (about 2 large or 3 small to medium)
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1 can (14 ounces) Sweetened Condensed Milk (fat free is ok)
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 unbaked (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell or Homemade Pie Crust (it’s easier than you think, and it’s so much better than a store-bought crust)
TOPPING
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

FOR FILLING

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie recipe

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Wash and wrap sweet potatoes in foil, as shown above.

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie recipe

BAKE for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on size. Unwrap and rinse potatoes under cold water; remove skin. Break apart in large bowl. INCREASE oven temperature to 425° F.

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie recipe

POUR melted butter in bowl with sweet potatoes. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Blend in sweetened condensed milk, grated orange peel, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, salt and egg. Pour into unbaked pie shell.

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie recipe

BAKE at 425° F, as shown above, for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; reduce temperature to 350° F.

FOR TOPPING

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie recipe

MIX together egg, corn syrup, sugar, butter and nuts in small bowl; spread over pie.

No-Fail Sweet Potato Pie recipe

BAKE for an additional 25 minutes or until set.

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Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Topping
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
Being from the South/Midwest/Above Texas, the thought of a sweet potato pie with a pecan pie topping really appealed to me. Plus, this one even has "No Fail" in the recipe title.
Ingredients
  • FILLING
  • ¾ pound sweet potatoes (about 2 large or 3 small to medium)
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • 1 can (14 ounces) Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell or Homemade Pie Crust*
  • TOPPING
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
  1. FOR FILLING:
  2. PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Wash and wrap sweet potatoes in foil.
  3. BAKE for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on size. Unwrap and rinse potatoes under cold water; remove skin. Break apart in large bowl.
  4. INCREASE oven temperature to 425° F.
  5. POUR melted butter in bowl with sweet potatoes. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Blend in sweetened condensed milk, grated orange peel, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, salt and egg. Pour into unbaked pie shell.
  6. BAKE at 425° F for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; reduce temperature to 350° F.
  7. FOR TOPPING:
  8. MIX together egg, corn syrup, sugar, butter and nuts in small bowl; spread over pie.
  9. BAKE for an additional 25 minutes or until set.
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Pumpkin Pie Deconstructed: 6 New Recipes

Pumpkin Pie Deconstructed: 6 New Recipes

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Pumpkin Bourbon Pie Recipe
Photo by VeryBestBaking.com

Pumpkin pie, a holiday tradition. Whether you like the classic version or a slightly more flavorful Broubon version (which makes this the favorite for my family), it’s just not the holidays without a pumpkin pie of some kind.

This year, we’ve asked 6 bloggers to help us deconstruct and reinvent pumpkin pie, and create 6 totally new ways to make it. You’ve probably seen Bravo’s Top Chef where contestants are often asked to take whatever ingredients are given to them and create something delicious and spectacular out of it. I do this best with the remnants in my fridge, especially after a party. Well, we’re throwing classic pumpkin pie fixings at our bloggers, and you’re going to like what they’ve cooked up.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Cake recipe

Or baked up in Jessica’s case, from How Sweet It Is, who created the 6-layer Pumpkin Pie Spice cake above (plus another layer cake with more chocolate!):

  • Cake #1 = 2 layers each of peanut butter cake, crunchy cinnamon apple cake and spiced pumpkin cake, each layer sandwiched by a layer of cinnamon sugar butter cream
  • Cake #2 = a center layer of pumpkin spice cheesecake, enveloped by chocolate fudge cake with the outermost layers being peanut butter cake, concealed in a thick layer of dark chocolate fudge chip frosting

Cinnamon Crêpes with Pumpkin Mousse & Graham Crust Crumble recipe

Kelly from Evil Shenanigans created a lighter, elegant pumpkin dessert with the Cinnamon Crêpes with Pumpkin Mousse & Graham Crust Crumble above, something even the pickiest in-laws will love.

Pumpkin Pie Popsicles recipe

Or maybe you don’t especially like pumpkin pie (I know there are some of you out there), and maybe you’d like a refreshing twist like Pumpkin Pie Popsicles above from Damaris’ Kitchen Corners. These are so unique; I love how creamy they look, and also easy to make!

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pizza Pie recipe

Another twist on the original is Knuckle Salad‘s Pumpkin Ice Cream Pizza Pie above, which Kristina re-creates from her childhood memories of ice creams shop goodies and tough love.

Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding recipe

Looking for something delicious, crustless and gluten-free? Then, the Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding recipe above created In Erika’s Kitchen is for you.

Pumpkin Crème Brulée recipe

I don’t know about you, but I love crème brulée, and I love Julie’s (aka Mommie Cooks) Pumpkin Crème Brulée above, although I think I would have loved her pumpkin hand pies and whoopie pies too.

So this holiday season, we hope you’ll be inspired to deconstruct your own pumpkin pie and try something new. It not, there’s always the classic version…and the slightly more tipsy one too.

Recipe Links:

Pumpkin Post: Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup

Pumpkin Post: Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup

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I love soup. I eat soup for lunch almost every day, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. There’s something so satisfying in this steaming bowl of broth, cooked vegetables, meats and just plain nourishment for the soul. Especially when it’s cold or rainy outside (or over-air-conditioned inside) and the soup has been cooking all day.

This soup incorporates pumpkin and ginger, two healthy powerhouses. Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants, fiber and Vitamin A plus it’s low in fat. It also adds a flavor punch to many savory dishes, from pastas to soups to casseroles.

Pumpkin is also great in chili!

Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup

Ingredients for 4 Servings:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 to 3 Chicken Flavor Bouillon Cubes
  • 1 can (15 ounces) Pumpkin purée
  • 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
  • 1/4 cup light sour cream

Directions:

HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, coriander and crushed red pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add water and bouillon; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes to develop flavors. Stir in pumpkin and evaporated milk; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until heated through.

TRANSFER mixture to blender or food processor (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until creamy. Serve warm or reheat to desired temperature. Ladle soup into bowls.

PLACE sour cream in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles onto soup. Using wooden pick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through sour cream from center to edge of bowl.

PREPARATION TIP: Soup may be prepared the day ahead. Cool to room temperature after adding pumpkin and evaporated milk. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, blend then reheat to serving temperature, but do not boil.

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Spiderweb Pumpkin Curry Soup
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetiser
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4 servings
 
This soup incorporates pumpkin and ginger, two healthy powerhouses. Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants, fiber and Vitamin A plus it's low in fat. It also adds a flavor punch to many savory dishes, from pastas to soups to casseroles.
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1½ teaspoons curry powder
  • ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 to 3 Chicken Flavor Bouillon Cubes
  • 1 can (15 ounces) Pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
  • ¼ cup light sour cream
Instructions
  1. HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, coriander and crushed red pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add water and bouillon; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes to develop flavors. Stir in pumpkin and evaporated milk; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until heated through.
  2. TRANSFER mixture to blender or food processor (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until creamy. Serve warm or reheat to desired temperature. Ladle soup into bowls.
  3. PLACE sour cream in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles onto soup. Using wooden pick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through sour cream from center to edge of bowl.
  4. PREPARATION TIP: Soup may be prepared the day ahead. Cool to room temperature after adding pumpkin and evaporated milk. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, blend then reheat to serving temperature, but do not boil.
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Green Jalapeño Margarita: Go Green on Cinco de Mayo

Green Jalapeño Margarita: Go Green on Cinco de Mayo

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Green Jalapeño Margarita recipe

Here’s a trend I’ve been seeing lately: adding spinach to smoothies, grating zucchini into brownies and stirring pumpkin into soup and pastas. This may sound crazy, but these are all good ways to get more nutrients into our diets, which most of us need! And, they really do taste delicious…or, rather, I should say they don’t taste at all. I can’t even detect the extra veggies added to these particular dishes, so I get to eat my favorite foods with one extra, effortless serving of vegetables.

So, I soon became a spinach-smoothie convert, throwing a handful of spinach into any combination of frozen fruit, yogurt and instant breakfast mix I was blending. As May rolled around, I realized I could easily incorporate this trick into one of my favorite cocktails: the frozen margarita! Plus, I love jalapeños and drinks with a bit of spice. Adding a few fresh slices of this hot pepper + spinach gives your frozen margarita some heat, as well as a gorgeous green color. And it still tastes like that awesome beach trip to Mexico.

I give you the Green Jalapeño Margarita: your new favorite frozen summery drink.

Green Jalapeño Margarita

Ingredients for 2 servings:

  • 3/4 cup fresh spinach leaves
  • 1/4 cup Tequila blanco
  • 1/4 cup orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier)
  • 1/4 cup apple juice or orange juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 to 4 slices fresh jalapeño chile
  • 10 to 12 cilantro leaves
  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • Coarse salt

Directions:

PLACE spinach, Tequila, liqueur, Juicy Juice, lime juice, jalapeño slices, cilantro and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

DIP rims of glasses into water; dip into salt and shake off excess. Pour margarita mixture into glasses. Garnish each with a jalapeño slice, if desired.

Cook’s Tip: Increase amounts of jalapeño, cilantro and spinach leaves according to taste.

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Green Jalapeño Margarita
Author: 
Recipe type: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1
 
Try this healthier - and still delicious - take on a spicy, frozen margarita.
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup fresh spinach leaves
  • ¼ cup Tequila blanco
  • ¼ cup orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier)
  • ¼ cup apple juice or orange juice
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 to 4 slices fresh jalapeño chile
  • 10 to 12 cilantro leaves
  • 2 slices cucumber
  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • Coarse salt
Instructions
  1. PLACE spinach, Tequila, liqueur, apple or orange juice, lime juice, jalapeño slices, cilantro, cucumber and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
  2. DIP rims of glasses into water; dip into salt and shake off excess. Pour margarita mixture into glasses. Garnish each with a jalapeño slice, if desired.
  3. Cook's Tip: Increase amounts of jalapeño, cilantro and spinach leaves according to taste.
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Quick & Easy Dinners: Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

Quick & Easy Dinners: Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

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Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

Enchiladas mean different things to different people. To some, they mean spicy chicken or pork, topped with red chile sauce. To others, they’re tangy green chile sauce with cheese. Still others add sour cream or cream cheese, potatoes, peanuts or almonds. And to purists, enchiladas mean simple tortillas heated on a stove-top one-by-one, dipped in chile sauce, then folded once and topped with cheese and onion.

This Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe means quick, easy and scrumptious. I made them with my new boyfriend and my dad — they’ve cumulatively eaten a lot of enchiladas — and it was agreed these enchiladas were delicious (better the next day and even more so with a fried egg on top for breakfast). And don’t forget flexible! This recipe features chicken, cheddar cheese, tomato salsa and cream cheese, but make a few changes and you can please even your pickiest friends and family members. Just use any variety of salsa or enchilada sauce you like (I used tomato-raspberry-chipotle salsa; the sweet/spicy combination was addictive!) and substitute different cheeses like smoked Gouda, sharp white cheddar or queso fresco. You can also use Greek yogurt or sour cream in place of cream cheese.

Find out what enchiladas mean to you!

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients for 4 servings:

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast meat
  • 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups (12-ounce bottle) chunky salsa, divided
  • 1/2 of an 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 8 (7- or 8-inch) soft taco-size fat free or regular flour tortillas

Directions:

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Spray large, nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add onion; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

Add chicken, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 3/4 cup salsa and cream cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheeses are melted as shown above.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

SPOON a scant 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place in 13 x 9-inch (3-quart rectangular) baking dish as shown above.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

Drizzle with remaining salsa. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese (as shown with queso fresco above); cover. Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese on top is melted.

Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas recipe

I served mine with fresh cilantro (shown above), a dry rosé wine, and a green salad. Salud!

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Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1½ cups cooked, shredded chicken breast meat
  • ¾ cup (3 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1½ cups (12-ounce bottle) chunky salsa, divided
  • ½ of an 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese
  • 8 (7- or 8-inch) soft taco-size fat free or regular flour tortillas
Instructions
  1. PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Spray large, nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add onion; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.
  2. Add chicken, ½ cup cheddar cheese, ¾ cup salsa and cream cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheeses are melted as shown above.
  3. SPOON a scant ⅓ cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place in 13 x 9-inch (3-quart rectangular) baking dish as shown above.
  4. Drizzle with remaining salsa. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese (as shown with queso fresco above); cover. Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese on top is melted.
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Mom’s Margarita Wine Punch

Mom’s Margarita Wine Punch

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Margarita Wine Punch

Ever since I found a cake stand that doubles as a punch bowl, I’ve been excited to serve wine punch like my mom used to do back in the ’70s. I remember her as fabulous in her polyester pant suit, hair piled high, serving pretty punch in a gorgeous glass bowl at parties my parents sometimes threw. I love this Margarita Wine Punch because it tastes like a margarita, but is made with wine, my favorite drink.

She sent me this recipe so I could have a great punch at my party too; it’s great for Cinco de Mayo, outdoor summer events, or any weekend when you crave a frosty Mexican beverage.

Margarita Wine Punch Recipe

adapted from a Sunsest magazine recipe, from sometime in the late ’70s

In a punch bowl, stir together:

  • 3 6-oz. cans thawed frozen concentrate for limeaid
  • 1 12-oz. can thawed frozen concentrate for lemonade
  • 2 bottles (75 ml.) cold dry white wine, such as Chablis or Chenin Blanc  (total of 9 C. wine)
  • If desired tint with A DROP OR TWO of green food coloring.

Shortly before serving add an ice ring or ice cubes. This can be mixed in a large bowl and served in a pitcher (or pitchers).

If desired set out a bowl of salt and a bowl of lemon or lime wedges so guests can rub glass rims with citrus wedges and dip in salt before adding punch.

Makes 3 quarts.

You can use any amount of wine in this recipe, anywhere between 1 bottle and 2 bottles. This recipe has double the wine of the original recipe my mom used, as the lime-aid is very tart and needed cutting. Very dry wine works best.

Now all I need is a fabulous summer pantsuit!

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Margarita Wine Punch
Author: 
Recipe type: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Total time: 
 
You can use any amount of wine in this recipe, anywhere between 1 bottle and 2 bottles. This recipe has double the wine of the original recipe my mom used, as the lime-aid is very tart and needed cutting. Very dry wine works best.
Ingredients
  • 3 6-oz. cans thawed frozen concentrate for limeaid
  • 1 12-oz. can thawed frozen concentrate for lemonade
  • 2 bottles (75 ml.) cold dry white wine, such as Chablis or Chenin Blanc  (total of 9 C. wine)
  • If desired tint with A DROP OR TWO of green food coloring.
Instructions
  1. In a punch bowl, stir ingredients together.
  2. Shortly before serving add an ice ring or ice cubes. This can be mixed in a large bowl and served in a pitcher (or pitchers).
  3. If desired set out a bowl of salt and a bowl of lemon or lime wedges so guests can rub glass rims with citrus wedges and dip in salt before adding punch.
  4. Makes 3-4 quarts.
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