Witch's Brew

Vicki Bir's Witch's Brew with Eerie Ice

Eerie Ice:

Water

Small plastic items such as spiders, bats, eyeballs and fingers

Witch's Brew:

2 quarts apple juice

1 tablespoon whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

To make ice: Select a ring mold smaller than the bowl in which you plan to serve the brew. Fill it halfway with water. Place in freezer until frozen hard. Place a layer of plastic items decoratively atop the ice. Add just enough water to hold decorations in place and return to freezer. If decorations extend above the top of the ice, it will look better.

To make brew: Place apple juice in nonreactive, deep saucepan. Place cloves and cinnamon in a piece of cheesecloth and tie into a small bag. Add to pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Remove cheesecloth bag. Add orange juice, lemon juice and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, and when sugar dissolves, remove from heat. Let cool.

Serve in punch bowl. At serving time, unmold the ice ring by dipping the mold in hot water for a moment or placing a hot towel around it until it comes loose from the mold. Serve brew with Eerie Ice, decorated side up. Dip punch from center of ice ring. Makes 16 servings.

Per serving: 87 calories, no fat, no cholesterol, .04 gram protein, 22 grams carbohydrates, .21 gram total fiber, 6 milligrams sodium, 20 grams total sugars.