Bridal showers and baby showers have been on my mind lately bringing back memories of ones I’ve attended and the food and fellowship that accompanied them.
From the youngest days I can remember, my mother took me with her to showers. I always looked forward to these occasions. These events were fine and festive. I’m not sure what I liked most – getting dolled up in my finest dress or enjoying the nibbles and punch.
On the subject of party punch, there are some memorable punch recipes worth sharing. While it’s trending now for mimosas to take the place of punch, you’ll still see punch at parties, but “back in the day” sweet punch was the absolute center of attention at any shower or wedding reception. (Those were the days when the average person didn’t worry about added sugars.) Beautiful glass or silver punch bowls displayed the punch prominently on the main table and hostesses ladled it out into small, matching punch cups.
One punch recipe popular in Lucedale circles was called “Madge’s Frosted Punch.” I have no idea who Madge was, but the woman who introduced that punch to Lucedale was the late Teasie Harris. She had been born in Louisiana, lived for a while in Mobile, and ended up in Lucedale because her husband Earl worked for the natural gas company and was relocated to Lucedale. A small amount of information is documented on the prelude page of her 1972 cookbook titled Enjoy Gracious Living With Recipes from Teasie’s Kitchen. She must have moved here in the late 1940s because the prelude states, “During the past quarter of a century, Mrs. Harris has become well known in the Lucedale area for her skill in entertaining.” The cookbook’s appreciation page identifies Teasie’s editor was the late Pat Sellers, the mother of George County Times publisher Garnett Sellers Colburn.
Teasie had learned at an early age the secrets of Louisianna’s unique French cuisine from her mother and later from her high school home economics teacher. She continued her interest in cooking when she moved as an adult to Mobile and collected recipes from that area. By the time she settled in Lucedale she owned a plethora of recipes and entertaining tips. She put this knowledge to good use entertaining untold numbers of bridal events, teas, luncheons, receptions, dinners, open houses and parties of all kinds.
In December 1972, she published the first printing of her 234-page cookbook. She printed 1,001 copies. In May 1973, she printed another 1,001 copies, and in July 1974, she printed another 501. I have no idea why each printing didn’t stop with an even number, but this is what the cookbook states.
Below you’ll find Teasie’s recipe for “Madge’s Frosted Punch.” You’ll also find my mother’s punch recipe that she made for most of those showers I attended with her all those years ago.
Madge’s Frosted Punch
From the 1972 Cookbook titled Enjoy Gracious Living With Recipes from the Teasie’s Kitchen
Ingredients and Directions:
1 large can frozen lemonade
1 large can frozen orange juice
1 large can pineapple juice
1 oz. almond extract
Mix above ingredients. Add:
4 c. sugar
5 c. water
Bring to boil. Set aside; add 2 packages Jello (your color); stir in mixture until dissolved. Add 1 gallon water; freeze in milk cartons. Remove from freezer 2 to 3 hours before serving.
Mama’s Punch
From the Kitchen of Janelle Buntyn
Ingredients:
2 pkg. black cherry Kool-Aid
1 pkg. tropical punch Kool-Aid
1 small can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 small can frozen orange juice concentrate
3 c. sugar
1 large can pineapple juice
½ gal. pineapple sherbet
1 qt. ginger ale, chilled
Mix first 6 ingredients in a gallon jug. Finish filling with water. Partially freeze or chill well.
When ready to serve, pour into punch bowl; add sherbet and ginger ale. Stir and enjoy!
Note: different colors of punch can be made by changing Kool-Aid flavors.
