I don’t remember too many family traditions that are unique.
We don’t have any real ethnic background. We had good Southern cooking at holidays and celebrations, but it wasn’t anything super special. It was sure better than any of those cooks on the Food Network though!
My Aunt Betty’s punch was at every holiday and celebration.
It’s super simple and delicious. It’s versatile with fun flavors and colors to match any event.
I grew up with cousins by the dozens and family events were huge. We always had Aunt Betty’s punch – at birthdays, Easter, Christmas, showers.
My Aunt Betty is 86 and has Alzheimer’s Disease now. My kids got to meet her a couple years ago, when we drove from Utah to Georgia, before flying to Germany. It was a bittersweet moment for me. She’s still so beautiful.
She was the greatest cook! I remember one time I spent the night at her house and she asked what I wanted to eat for dinner. I was probably about 7 or 8 and I told her, “Steak!” Can you believe that she had a little sirloin in her freezer? She thawed it out, seasoned it, and broiled it. It tasted better than any restaurant.
We’ve always lived far away, being a military family. My kids haven’t grown up with many family traditions.
My kids get super excited when we have my Aunt Betty’s punch. I’m making it a tradition because we live far away from family.
I made the punch for our little family Halloween party.
I used pineapple juice and ginger ale and rainbow sherbet. The result was ghoulishly fun.
Memories in a glass right here.
See how the sherbet blends with the juice and soda to make a fun foamy festive punch?
Any kind of sherbet can be used. I especially like using raspberry or lime. It makes such a pretty punch. I imagine you could mix it up with different juices or use a lemon-lime soda as well. Maybe a little vodka for extra oompf?
I’ve sometimes frozen fruit pieces (pineapple slices are gorgeous!) in juice cubes and floated that in to keep the punch chilled without watering it down.
Aunt Betty’s Punch
Ingredients
- 1 2 liter bottle ginger ale
- 1 large can pineapple juice
- 1 pint sherbet
I’ve used Aunt Betty’s Punch recipe many times over the years! And it’s my favorite!! I love it with lime sherbet! I remember it was served at my wedding and my baby showers as well as other family gatherings over the years.. Each time I use the recipe I always think of Mom and Aunt Betty. I visited with Aunt Betty a few weeks back and although her memory is failing due to the Alzheimer’s she did remember me. She is 86 years old with Alzheimer’s but that horrible disease has not taken away her sense of humor, her ability to carry on a conversation or her sweet disposition. And she is as beautiful as she has always been….Thank you Jennifer for this precious sweet memory of Aunt Betty’s Punch!!
I used to drink glass after glass of this at church parties as a kid.
It is delicious.
Thank you for sharing your favorite Aunt Betty’s punch with us here at Tell me a Story. It is so simple and I must try it at our next celebration.