Ice Ring Food

HOW TO MAKE AN ICE RING

Steps:

• Layer one of the fruits and some of the punch (1" at a time) in a ring mold.
• Freeze each layer before adding the next layer.
• Layer with as many fruits as you want in your mold.
• When the ring mold is frozen solid, and ready to put in the punch bowl, sit mold in hot water for 1 minute. This will help to make it come out of the mold easily.

ICE RING

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a freezer proof flat bottomed bowl.
• Cover with water, and freeze overnight, or until solid.
• Add it to a your punch bowl right before serving!

CRANBERRY-ORANGE HOLIDAY PUNCH

Steps:

• For the Bundt ice ring: Pour 1 inch of water into the bottom of a 12-cup Bundt pan. Add a quarter of the cranberries, 5 thyme sprigs and 2 bay leaves and evenly spread the ingredients around the Bundt pan--this will be the top of the ice cube. Place in the freezer to set for at least 4 hours.
• For the next layer, add enough water to fill halfway up the Bundt pan, then add the same quantity of ingredients as the first layer. Place in freezer for at least 4 more hours. Continue to make 2 more layers and freeze in the same manner, freezing each layer at least 4 hours before adding on the next. The final layer should freeze 8 hours or up to overnight before being used.
• Turn the Bundt pan onto a baking sheet and hold under running hot water until the Bundt ice ring releases onto the baking sheet, 5 to 10 seconds. Add to a punch bowl when ready to serve.
• For the spiced-thyme simple syrup: Combine the sugar with 2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the allspice, cloves, thyme and cinnamon sticks. Let steep while it comes to room temperature, 1 hour. Strain and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the punch: Stir together the cranberry juice, vodka and 2 cups spiced-thyme simple syrup (save the remainder for another use). Pour over the Bundt ice ring in the punch bowl and top with prosecco and cranberries for garnish. Serve immediately.

FRUIT-FILLED ICE RING

Steps:

• 1. Slice 2 green pears into 1/2" wedges and lay skin side down in a 12-cup Bundt or tube pan. Line side of pan with overlapping apple rings from 2 cored red apples. Add water to cover pears by about 1/2" (about 2 cups) and cover about 1/2" up sides of apples. Freeze until set, about 2 hours.
• 2. Fill mold with cold water to completely submerge fruit. Return to freezer and freeze until solid, 4 hours or overnight.
• 3. To serve, dip the bottom of the mold into a bowl of hot water to loosen. Invert a plate over mold; turn out ice ring and transfer to your punch bowl. Cheers!

HOLIDAY PUNCH BOWL ICE RING

Steps:

• Clear a spot in your freezer that is level and measures at least 14x14-inches.
• Place maraschino cherries in a pleasing design around the bottom of a 10- to 12-inch gelatin mold. Arrange mint leaves around the cherries, right-sides down (facing out and touching the mold).
• Combine maraschino cherry juice in a bowl with 2 cups water; pour 1/2 inch into the mold on top of cherries and mint, reserve remaining liquid. Place mold in the freezer until partially frozen, about 1 hour.
• Remove mold from the freezer and arrange green and gold kiwis on top of cherries. Use ice cubes and grapes to hold kiwi slices in place. Top with remaining ice and grapes. Carefully fill the mold with remaining water-juice mixture, and add more water as necessary to fill to the top edge of the mold. Place in the freezer until frozen solid, about 24 hours.
• To unmold the ice ring, fill a bowl that is larger than the mold with 1 inch of hot water. Place the mold into the hot water until ice ring separates from the mold, about 1 minute. Transfer ice ring into your punch bowl and serve immediately.

CRANBERRY ICE RING FOR PUNCH

Steps:

• Fill a 4 cup metal ring mold with 3/4 inch water; freeze until solid.
• Place enough fresh cranberries on the ice to fill the mold. Fill completely with water and freeze until solid, at least 6 hours or up to 1 week.
• To remove the ice ring, briefly dip the bottom of the mold in a bowl half-filled with warm water.
• Immediately float the ring in the punch.

MARDI GRAS MADNESS PUNCH

Steps:

• Place ice ring in the bottom of your punch bowl.
• Add the liquids in the order given and stir slightly.
• Slice the oranges, lemons and limes and float the slices on top of the liquid mixture and ice ring.

THE LONG HELLO

Steps:

• Make and freeze ring mold with pears and apples. DO AHEAD: Ring mold can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and keep frozen.
• Stir Calvados, St-Germain, bitters, and 1 cup water in a punch bowl. Add ice ring, then Champagne. Ladle punch into glasses and grate nutmeg over.

CITRUS ICE RING FOR PUNCH

Steps:

• It is best if the lime is as close in size to the lemons as possible.
• Cut lemons and lime in half lengthwise; with cut side down, cut into 1/4-inch slices.
• You will need a ring mold, preferably the kind with grooves in the bottom-- I use my tupperware jello mold and it's perfect.
• With the rind edge down, stand slices up around circle-- 1 lime, 2 lemon, 1 cherry, 2 lemon, all close together.
• Repeat five more times.
• Pour in enough water to be 1/2-inch deep.
• Freeze.
• When frozen, pour in an inch more water; freeze.
• When frozen, repeat.
• Keep doing this until mold is full.
• The reason you do this in stages is to prevent the fruit from floating.
• To unmold, run cold water over the bottom; it will then slip out.
• Place round side up in punch-- preferably Sparkling Party Punch (non-alcoholic), posted as a separate recipe here at Recipezaar(#24691).