Fruit Punch Slush

While I was growing up, when I saw my mother making this fruit punch slush I knew that a big family party was coming. It was one of the highlights of the year, especially at Christmastime. Mom would always make this great punch that would add to the festive mood. It can be used any time of the year, though. During the winter the color and taste compliments any dinner; in the summer it is cool and refreshing.

It is a great drink that can be used for large crowds or small groups. For smaller crowds it works well because you can keep the mixture frozen until you need more, which is great for those unplanned guests that arrive during the holidays.

The ingredients that will be needed for this recipe:

• 1 can (46 ounces) pineapple juice
• 2 cans (6 ounces each) frozen lemonade
• 1 can (6 ounce) concentrated lemon juice
• 3 packages raspberry Kool-Aid
• 4 cups sugar
• 2 packages frozen raspberries
• 2 gallons of water
• 3 large gallon freezer plastic food bags
• 4-6 2 liter bottles of Lemon-lime soda drink (like Sprite or Seven-Up)
• 1 large container that will hold two gallons

Use a bowl that can hold at least two gallons. Empty the pineapple juice, frozen lemonade, concentrated lemon juice, and raspberry Kool-Aid into the bowl and mix the ingredients well. After mixing the ingredients add four cups of sugar to the mixture. Stir the mixture so everything is well blended, then add the two packages of frozen raspberries. You want to have the mixture blended well before adding the raspberries so that the raspberries don't get too mushy. Stirring gently, add the water in until the mixture makes two gallons.

Using a ladle, place the mixture into the three large freezer bags. This makes it easier to store in the freezer and allows enough room so that the mixture can expand a bit while it is freezing. Place the bags of fruit punch mixture into the freezer. Freeze for at least twenty-four hours.

Just before your guests arrive set out the punch bowl. Taking one of the frozen bags of the fruit punch mix, open it up and place it in the punch bowl. Depending on the size of the punch bowl, add one to two bottles of the lemon-lime drink to the punch bowl.

As the event goes on remember to recheck the punch bowl to see if more of the frozen fruit punch mixture is needed or if it is just the lemon-lime drink that is needed. Adjust the mixture to your taste. This mixture serves about 50 six-ounce drinks.