by Diane Sagers

CORRESPONDENT

It is cold outside. Chestnuts may not be roasting on an open fire, but all the trimmings of Christmas are in place tonight. It is time to take a break even if only for a few minutes to sit back, relax and maybe enjoy sipping a special drink -- either hot or cold. You may like it so much you'll decide to leave one for Santa.

If you are still trying to Tab A into Slot B, and don't have time to stop for that tonight, you may find some of the drinks below to be just the ticket for tomorrow's festivities. You probably have some of the ingredients on hand.

Hot chocolate is a perennial favorite. Make it a bit more special by putting a drop or two of vanilla extract into the drink. Or make your favorite hot chocolate and serve in mugs with a peppermint stick for stirring. The combination of mint and chocolate is often a big hit.

Hot Fruit Punch

1 6-ounce can frozen orange juice

1 6-ounce can frozen limeade

1 cup sugar

10 cups water

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

Mix all above together and heat.

Hot Chocolate Mix

1 pound hot chocolate mix

13 cups instant dry milk

11 ounces nondairy creamer

Mix 1/4 cup of the above to 1 cup hot water.

Three Fruit Slush

1 cup sugar

2 cups water

2 cups mashed bananas

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade (no water added)

1 6-ounce can frozen orange juice (3 cans water added)

Combine sugar and water and boil together about 3 minutes. Cool. Mash bananas; add to fruit juices and sugar syrup. Pour into pans for freezing. Freeze until slushy. Stir occasionally. Remove from pan to beat with an egg beater once during freezing to keep smooth if desired. Makes about 25 appetizer servings. Serve it plain or pour a carbonated beverage of the ginger ale type over it just before serving.

Friendship Tea

(This one might be a good gift for a neighbor or friend.)

2 packages instant lemonade with sugar

1 (14 ounce) jar tang

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground cloves

Mix dry ingredients and put 2 heaping teaspoons per cup, then add warm water. Using part fruit juice will add another flavor. Makes 100 cups.

Raspberry Punch

1 pint raspberries sherbet

1 pint vanilla ice cream

1 large can Hawaiian punch

1 large can pineapple juice

12 ounces frozen orange juice

Ginger ale

Combine ingredients and serve.

Wassail

2 quarts apple cider

2 cups orange juice

1 cup lemon juice

5 cups pineapple juice

1 whole cinnamon stick

1 teaspoon whole cloves

Sugar or honey to taste

Combine cider, juices, cinnamon stick, cloves and sweetener. Bring to a simmer in a large pot. Strain and serve hot. Makes 32 4-ounce servings.

Christmas Punch

16 ounces crushed pineapple

2 cups grapefruit juice

1 quart orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 quart lime sherbet

8 cups ginger ale

1 cup chopped red and green cherries

1 quart crushed ice, approximately.

Mix first 5 ingredients in a punch bowl with crushed ice. Just before serving, add ginger ale and sherbet. Sprinkle with cherries and serve.