Not all recipes that appear in Idea Alley have been tested by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Peggy Sears shares this punch recipe that has us dreaming of lounging on a beach someplace warm and tropical.
Peggy's Punch
1 gallon orange juice; Sears prefers orange juice with pulp
1 gallon pineapple juice
1 gallon Hawaiian Punch
1 large can frozen fruit punch concentrate (see note)
Fresh orange slices, for garnish
Combine the juice, punch and punch concentrate and mix well. Serve garnished with orange wedges.
Serving suggestion: Sears likes to freeze the mixture in a mold and serve it in a punch bowl.
Note: Sears' recipe calls for frozen Hawaiian Punch concentrate, but we could not find the product listed on the company's website and have not seen it in stores.
For those of us who love mashed potatoes (who doesn't?), but are looking to cut some of the calories, Joe Riddle offers this version that subs in cauliflower for some of the potatoes.
Mashed Potatoes With Cauliflower
Garlic salt
3 medium to large potatoes, rinsed, peeled, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
3 cups cauliflower, rinsed, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 to 1/2 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons butter
Ground black or white pepper, to taste
Bring a large pot filled three-quarters full of water to a boil. Add pinch of garlic salt and potatoes and cook for 12 minutes. Add the cauliflower and cook an additional 8 minutes. This will allow the potatoes and cauliflower to finish cooking at the same time.
Drain vegetables in a colander. Put the potatoes and cauliflower back in the empty pot and put the pot back on the burner you were just using. The residual heat will help them dry out. Let rest 2 to 3 minutes.
Add sour cream, butter, garlic salt and pepper to the pot and mash with a potato masher or electric mixer. Add more sour cream and/or butter until the mixture reaches your desired texture. Season to taste with salt, pepper and garlic salt.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Send recipe requests, contributions and culinary questions to Kelly Brant, Idea Alley, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; email:
Please include a daytime phone number.
Food on 03/04/2015