Mother's Day Punch

photo by Warren Bobrow with Leica M8

Mother’s Day is all about paying homage to our mothers.  It is also about the gathering of the family, and the creation of a family-pleasing combination of flavors specifically designed to make Mother’s Day even more enticing and delicious!  A punch bowl filled with sweet and spicy flavors are a nostalgic metaphor for the trials and tribulations of being a mom.

Everybody loves punch!  And why shouldn’t they?

One of my favorite punches involves freshly squeezed oranges along with the refreshingly aromatic Hella Bitter from Brooklyn.  This powerfully-scented Citrus Bitter is deeply flavored to release the hidden secrets of your most fabulous punch ever. What makes this punch so fabulous?  Perhaps it’s more than just the sum of its parts!  I’ve chosen to use Barr Hill Vodka from Vermont.  Distilled from grain and local raw honey, the Barr Hill Vodka is memorable in every respect. I think it tastes like a German eau de vie (the water of life) - think of it as liquid driven reverence to our mothers.

Slices of Meyer lemon will bring extra spark to the bowl along with the administration of freshly squeezed orange juice. Being citrus in nature, it contains all the stuffing, that as your mom would say, makes your bones grow up strong and gives you that extra burst of energy.  Enough vitamins in each sip to give you all your needed healing - in case you have an entire day of revelry! Because Mother’s Day only comes once a year (although to your mom, every day SHOULD be her day), you can rest assured that this punch will be on the menu and your taste buds for all eternity.

This punch also has the application of the staccato bubble laced Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water.  I like the lemon essence for its burst of citrus.  I chose Perrier because of the aromatic and quite refreshing aspect, perfect for the punchbowl.

Mavea from Germany makes a water filtration pitcher that turns out ice nearly crystal clear.  I use the Mavea “Inspired Water” pitcher ice in this punch primarily because the final result will be gorgeous, like the clarity of your mom’s eyes when she first gazed upon you. However, if you don’t own one of these, double-boil water and cool in silicon trays 2x2 inches for the cubes.

Mom’s Best Punch

Will slake the thirsts for a small gathering!

Ingredients:

1 bottle Barr Hill Vodka (750 ml size)

2 Quarts Freshly Squeezed orange juice (essential)

10 shakes Hella Bitter (Citrus)

4-5 Meyer Lemons sliced thinly

Mavea “Inspired Water” Ice cubes (if possible, or other cubes as instructed above)

Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water (Lemon Essence)

Preparation:

To a punch bowl add all the ingredients, stir and serve immediately.  Need I tell you to serve your mom first?

What are your manners???  (Smack!)