PARTY FLAIR

Between now and New Years there will be parties, and where there's a party there will be food with a holiday flair! Simple fruit punch looks especially pretty when each serving is topped with a scoop of sherbet in a contrasting color. For example, make berry red punch topped with lime sherbet. Serve with dainty sandwiches or cookies.

Holiday Punch
1 qt cranberry or loganberry juice
1 qt pineapple juice
1 qt ginger ale or sparkling water, chilled
1 qt lime sherbet
mix berry and pineappple juice and chill very well.When ready to serve, add ginger ale, or sparkling water. Fill chilled glasses about 2/3 full. Top each with a small scoop of sherbet. May be served in a punch bowl and topped with scoops of sherbet.
YIELD: 16

HOT BUTTERED CRANBERRY PUNCH
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 qt cranberry juice cocktail
1 pint pineapple juice
butter
In saucepan, combine sugar, water, spices and salt; bring to a boil.Add fruit juices and heat to boiling. Serve steaming hot, dotted with butter.
YIELD: 16

THE CHRISTIANS BROTHERS BRANDY

I found this great little bar guide with some fantastic holiday drinks....the Christian Brothers Brandy "straight" or "on the rocks" makes a magnificent beverage. But the beauty of brandy is that it mixes well in any company. For your greater enjoyment we've selected several classic recipes plus some exciting new ones, sure to enchance your reputation as a host. In the following recipes the glass traditionally used, is show. More and more people every day are finding it's great to entertain with the Christian Brothers Brandy!
BRANDY PUNCH
6 fifths of California Claret, or California Burgandy wine
1 1/2 fifth of Brandy
2 fifths Brut Champagne
2 quarts of carbonated water
1 can sliced pineapple
12 oranges sliced
juice of 12 lemons
2 tbs of granulated sugar
dissolve sugar in fruit juices. Add wine and brandy in a 2 gallon bowl and let stand in refrigerator until guests arrive. Just before serving, put a large piece of ice into a large punch bowl of three to four gallon size. Pour over it the fruit juice-wine mixture and add Champagne and carbonated water. Stir very lightly. Serve in punch glasses

YIELDS: 40-50

JACK FROST
a refreshing drink which everybody likes...
1 oz brandy
juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/4 lime
small amount of sugar
put all ingredients into blender with crushed ice or shaved ice. Mix until foamy. Strain into champange glasses. Allow for a few shavings of ice in the drink.

BRANDY N COFFEE
what a delightful way to end any day...
pour a tsp of brandy into piping hot black coffee. Add sugar to taste, stir well.

CHERRIES JUBILEE
exotic yet easy to make and unequaled as a festive holiday dessert...
1 qt firm black cherries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
mix water and sugar to create syrup, in saucepan, stem and simmer cherries in syrup. Heat brandy slightly then add to mixture and set ablaze. Arrange ice cream in 6-8 deep dishes. Over each ice cream serving pour with a large serving spoon some of the flaming cherries. (timing is of extreme importance)