My paternal grandparents were prolific entertainers–not just for family parties but also for large-scale events, like this dance in support of our local Boys & Girls Club, which they hosted at their home (you can see my mom in the flowered dress in pictures 8 and 9!). While neither of them cooked, my grandmother always made her special tutti-fruitti punch, something I remember with great fondness. I’ve shared this recipe before, but I’m sharing it again now as it was a particular tradition at their annual Christmas party. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 box or small bag of frozen strawberries

1 large can frozen orange juice

1 large can of undiluted pineapple juice

1 jar Maraschino cherries

1 liter ginger ale

The day before

Arrange the strawberries in a decorative metal Jello mold or ring (don’t use ceramic, porcelain, or glass). Fill 3/4 of the way full with water and freeze.

The day of

On the day of, combine the orange juice and pineapple juice in a punch bowl, adding the pineapple juice slowly until the orange juice is defrosted. Add the liquor from the Maraschino cherries. Immediately before your party/meal/etc., slowly add the ginger ale and stir so that the punch doesn’t froth. Add the Maraschino cherries. Remove the strawberry ice from the mold by placing the mold face-down on a plate and running hot water over the mold until the ice releases. Float on top of the punch bowl. Enjoy!