Spritzer Mocktail

What is purple but tastes like watermelon?   This drink does.

I made this non-alcoholic drink for our New Year's Eve celebration, but would probably be more appropriate for April Fool's Day due to its deceptive taste - my family was sure it had watermelon in it.

Items used:

• 1 can frozen Grape Juice
• 2 liter bottle of Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale 

In a pitcher, mix the can of Grape Juice and fill the can it came in 3 times with the ginger ale and mix it together, chill and serve.   If they don't have the Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale in your area, you might try mixing ginger ale and green tea together with the grape juice if you would like to try it.

Non-Alcoholic Sangria

Great for a family cookout or gathering as it is non-alcoholic and even kids can enjoy it. This is based on a recipe by Sarah Jayne at Recipezaar: http://www.recipezaar.com/non-alcoholic-sangria-370788?scaleto=4

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 cups grape juice
• 3 cups club soda
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• Optional: lemon, orange, apple or peach slices
• Large pitcher of punch bowl
• Large wooden spoon

If you are going to serve fairly soon, pour grape juice into pitcher, then add the club soda. If you are going to serve soon, don't pour to club soda into the mixture until you are ready to serve.

Add the sugar.

Add the orange juice Stir until well blended. If you are going to add the fruit slices, put them in now and store in the fridge to chill or until ready to serve.

KIDDE COCKTAIL FOR NEW YEARS EVE

This is a version of the kiddie cocktails that I had as a kid except we didn't have blender and it was just mixed and then a lot of ice cubes added.

I made up a pitcher for Kyle and I to celebrate the beginning of 2009.

It is a quick and easy cocktail to make for kids on special occassions and all you need is a can of grape juice concentrate from a can, ginger ale and ice cubes and blender.

For older kids and to make it look more like a cocktail, you can skewer marichino cherries, pieces of orange, lemon, or line on a toothpick and teeter it on the edge of the glass.

Blend 6 ice cubes, 1 can of the juice concentrate and slowly add the ginger ale and blend. Once you get to the top you may need to wait 30 seconds or so for the fizz to settle before adding more ginger ale. Continue to fill the blender until it gets to the top and continue to blend.

Once it is done, pour into decorative cups (we used plastic cups that we got on clearance after Halloween) and serve.