Summery Fruit Punch

[kirra]

Summery Fruit Punch

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen peach slices
1 cup frozen whole strawberries
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
1 (16-ounce) can pineapple juice, divided
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
2 cups frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
2 (11.5-ounce) cans peach nectar (recommended: Kern's)
4 cups lemon-lime soda
Cantaloupe, honeydew and/or watermelon slices, for garnish
Frozen cranberries or raspberries, for garnish
Extra-dry sparkling wine, optional

Preparation:

Special equipment: small flower shaped cookie cutter

Arrange a double-layer of peaches, whole strawberries, and mint leaves in the bottom of a bundt pan. Add enough pineapple juice to cover the fruit. Freeze for at least 2 hours, or until set.

In a large punch bowl, combine remaining pineapple juice, orange juice concentrate, sliced strawberries, peach nectar, and lemon-lime soda. Stir to mix thoroughly.

With a small flower cookie cutter, cut out flowers from melons. Place the melon flowers

in the punch along with the frozen cranberries.

To serve, remove bundt pan from freezer and invert over the center of the punch bowl. Ladle into glasses. For adults, top punch with sparkling wine. Golden punch.

Note: If the ice mold does not unmold, dip the bundt pan in a warm water bath for 1 to 2 seconds.