Prom Night 2: Mary Lou's Punch

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night 2 is one of the greatest movie titles of all time (next to Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key), which is why I couldn't help but find a way to make a drink inspired by the name. It's Prom Night and what is more perfect of a drink than a spiked punch?

I'm a big proponent for home-infused so this recipe is a bit labor intensive, but I think it really pays off. If you're interested in the punch but not all the added steps of cutting your own fruit and steeping it for at least 12 hours then I will also include a more time friendly recipe as well.

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Ingredients

750mL Vodka

1/4 Watermelon

10-15 Frozen Strawberries

10 Sprigs of Mint

1 Lime

Cranberry Juice

Pomegranate Syrup (optional)

Step 1:

Remove the pink fruit from the watermelon rinds and cut up the rinds into medium size chunks. The rinds are extremely flavorful and aromatic and will preserve longer than the soft fruit. Place the chunks of rinds into a large jar filled with the vodka. Seal and refrigerate for 2 hour.

Step 2:

Let 10 to 15 frozen strawberries thaw a bit so they are easier to cut, but don't let them defrost because they will start to bleed and lose their color. Halve your strawberries and give them a slight mush before adding them to your jar.

Step 3:

Grab about 10 sprigs of mint and keep them in your hand and give them a hard smack with your other hand. This will activate the mint and it will begin releasing it's oils without bruising or being ripped apart from muddling. With the stems still intact throw them into the jar

Step 4:

Cut 1 lime into 3 or 4 parts. Squeeze the lime into the vodka mixture and then throw the limes with the skin still on into the jar. You will get the juice as well as the oils from the peel to give it a citric bitterness. Stir everything together and then seal and refrigerate for at least another 2 hours.

Step 5:

Add 2 cups of cranberry juice to the mixture and pomegranate syrup (grenadine) to taste. Stir again, seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours. Sample every so often and add any needed ingredients.

Step 6:

Depending on your preference there are many different mixers you can use for this. If you want to make this self serve you can put out mixers for people to choose from or add them directly into the jar/bowl.Here are some suggestions-

• Seltzer or Club Soda

• Riesling or Moscato

• Carbonated Hard Cider (I used Ciderboys Raspberry Smash)

• Sparkling Fruit Cocktail

• Fruit Flavored Soda

Step 7:

Put on your prom dress,

serve in a fancy, blood red glass

and enjoy! You can strain out all the pulp and seeds by putting the fruit in cheese cloth while steeping or pouring each glass through a tea strainer, or keep the pulp for an added creep factor.

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For an easier and quicker recipe you can use flavored vodka and juices.

1 bottle Watermelon Vodka

4 cups V8 Splash Berry Blend

1 small bottle of POM Wonderful

2 limes sliced

Add all ingredient together over ice in a jar or bowl. I chose the juices specifically because of their natural flavors and that they work well together. Also, you can squeezes the limes in and discard the skin or keep the full wheels in for aesthetics, as well as any additional fruit slices you'd like to add.

If you liked these recipes and try any of them let me know!