Homemade Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipes

Let's face it. There are times when you need something fun and fruity. Cool days call for warm drinks. Hot,sunny days require something with lots of ice.
For those of us that don't want to get out of bed in the morning, we need something with a bit of a kick, to kick us into high gear.
After a long day at work, we need something to help us wind down.

Hopefully, you can find something for all of those times, and more with these great drink recipes.

One of my favorite memories of growing up was going to the drive-in ice cream stand with my grandfather for a milkshake on Saturday. The small shop is closed and boarded up now, but I managed to recreate one of my favorites at home, and now my children count it as one of their favorite treats.

Purple Cow Shake

1 can (6 oz) frozen grape juice concentrate
1 cup milk
2 cups vanilla ice cream

Put all 3 ingredients into a blender. Cover and blend at high speed for 30 seconds. Pour into glasses and enjoy.

Quick and simple, just the way I like them. For a bit of fizz...you can add half a 12 ounce can of grape soda!

How about something for breakfast? Invite some of your friends over for brunch on a Saturday. Have them bring their favorite breakfast casserole or muffins and tell them you'll provide the drinks! Then knock their socks off with this wonderful blended treat~!

Orange Julian

2 cups frozen orange juice concentrate
1 & 1/2 cups sugar
3 tsp. vanilla
3 cups water
3 cups milk
2 cups crushed ice

Place all ingredients, except ice in food processor and blend
or put into large mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to mix all ingredients well.
Refrigerate at least 2 hours prior to serving.
Place margarita or wine glasses into freezer to chill
Add ice right before serving and serve in frosty glasses.

For those of us who think the day can't be started without that caffiene kick, and have to have that cup of coffee before we can head out the door to work, this is the recipe that will change our lives!

Cappuchino MIx

3 & 1/2 cups dry milk
2 & 1/2 cups sugar
1 & 1/2 cups cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients. Use one teaspoon per 6 ounce cup of hot water. (For foam, use a hand mixer to stir up froth)

The holiday's call for something special, and this hot fruit punch is just the ticket. It makes 30 punch cups for your holiday entertaining. Your guests will love it, and so will you.

Hot Fruit Punch

9 cups cranberry juice
9 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
4 & 1/2 cups water
1 cup brown sugar, packed
4 cinnamon sticks, broken up
4 tsp. whole cloves
1/4 tsp. salt

Put cranberry juice, pineapple juice, water and brown sugar in a 30 cup electric percolater. In the basket put cinnamon sticks, cloves and salt. Perk as usual.

And last, but certainly not least, I want to share my Grandmother's recipe for Eggnog. It's the recipe that she made for all of the kids, so we didn't feel left out while the adults were drinking theirs. It's so much better than the stuff you buy in the wax cartons at the grocery store.

Edna's Eggnog

6 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 quart of milk, divided
1 tsp. vanilla

In large saucepan, beat together eggs, sugar and salt. Stir in 2 cups of the milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat a metal spoon with a thin film and reaches 160* on a candy thermometer.
Remove from heat.
Stir in remaining 2 cups of milk and vanilla
Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, several hours or overnight
Just before serving, pour into bowl or pitcher.
Serve immediately.

Happy drinking!