Need Food/Beverage Ideas!

[ASAalpha]

One thing that chapters on our campus do with drinks to make them a little more 'special' is to put a scoop of flavored sherbert in each cup along with sprite or whatever. It is fun to drink and very refreshing! Plus you can get a huuuuge tub of sherbert at wal-mart for cheap!

[adpiucf]

You can also purchase or get an alum to donate a beverage fountain -- that will look pretty (so long as it isn't one of the cheesy ones). I think the Shirley Temple idea is a good one-- pretty color and tastes simple enough.

You know, I'm not a fan of dumping sherbert into punch. The first time I ever saw this was at sorority prefs at my university and I couldn't stand to drink the stuff.

Whatever you serve, just make sure it is simple and it will appeal to a variety of tastes. Make sure you also have an alternative for diabetics.

[bejazd]

Do you have Trader Joes in your area? They have some sparkling juice drinks that would be really pretty and a little upscale. My kids like like the sparkling cranberry, blueberry and even the pomegranite. We don't drink a lot of sodas, so I serve these at the holidays and parties.

if you like the Starbucks passion fruit iced tea drink, it's pretty easy to replicate the same flavors with regular iced tea and adding the welch's passion fruit or cherry juice blend drinks.

[greekchef]

Also, a source for a carved melon may be a local culinary school. If you have a local community college with a culinary department you may be able to find out from the chef/instructor a talented person to carve you one or to have it done as a class assignment.

The most basic punch I do is a simple 1:1 blend of Pineapple juice and Ginger Ale spiked with a touch of Almond Extract. It light, not to sweet, drinkable if its hot outsided, is not thick and gooey and staining. A simple ring of pineapple juice and fruit frozen makes a pretty garnish if served in a punch bowl.