The Naval Officers' Wives to the Rescue

Mother's day brunch at our house today. We're so lucky to have both our mothers here in town. I spent more time than I care to admit this week looking for a recipe for punch. Somehow I got the notion there should be punch at brunch. But, everything is either full of booze or requires a simple syrup infused with herbs or spices or is just complicated and expensive looking. I'm sure they're all great, but they aren't what I was looking for.

Finally, I remembered the Naval Officers' Wives of Western Washington Entertain. Of course. I "inherited" this recipe collection from my mother. I think I rescued it from a garage sale pile 10 years or so ago. It's one of those collections where people submit recipes and someone types them all up and puts them in a book to raise money for a worthy cause or give as gifts. It's great for things like pudding cake, chicken divan (although the one in this book has mayonnaise, which I abhor, so I had to work out my own approach), and, it turns out, punch. Of the 25 beverages in the book, this is the only one with out alcohol. (If I remember my childhood correctly, those naval officers wives can put a drink or two away.) This punch is perfect. Basic, inexpensive ingredients. No added sugar. A lovely pink color. So, as a service to all humanity, here is the recipe:

1 12-oz can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 12-oz can frozen OJ, thawed

2 cups grenadine (this is what makes it perfect)

4 cans of water

3 quarts of chilled ginger ale

Juice of 3 lemons (I skipped this)

Mix it all up, chill it down, and you're good to go. Serve over ice. I cut this about in half and added extra ginger ale because ginger ale comes in 1 liter bottles which is more than a quart and a half and I didn't want a quarter of a bottle of ginger ale hanging around the house. Worked out fine. I can't recommend it enough. Thank you, Mrs. Jack Darby.