By Fourth of July and we had the whole family at Steve and Patty backyard — the first real summer gathering in almost two years, everyone vaccinated, nobody in a lawn chair six feet apart from anyone else. Steve ran the smoker. Matt and Danielle brought the kids. Kristin brought wine and her new boyfriend, who nobody had met yet, and who is a very polite corporate lawyer named David who looked slightly overwhelmed by the Kowalczyk experience but who ate three plates of brisket, which is the correct way to introduce yourself to this family.
I made the Fourth of July ribs again — Steve rub method, honey finish, oven then grill — and brought them to add to Steve spread. There was too much food. There is always too much food. Jake ate nothing except chips for approximately three hours and then ate one hot dog and declared the party a success, which it was. Lily asked me when Ryan and I were going to have babies, which Babcia Rose had coached her to ask or she asked on her own, I cannot tell, and I said someday and she accepted this and went back to her sparklers.
Ryan worked the overnight shift July 4th and came to the party late on July 5th — got there around 3 PM, missed the fireworks, made it in time for leftovers and Lily cornering him about the baby question. He handled it with the calm that comes from being a paramedic: no visible reaction, redirect, pat on the head. He is going to be a good father. I have known this since the first time I saw him with Jake. I am in no hurry. I am also not not thinking about it.
The party ended after dark and Steve and Ryan and Matt sat outside with beers after everyone else had gone in and I watched them from the kitchen window while I was helping Patty with dishes and thought: this is the family I married into. That sentence fits now in a way it did not a year ago, and it fit very well a year ago.
Between Steve’s smoker, my ribs, and enough food to feed the entire neighborhood, the one thing a party that size always needs is a big, easy drink that works for everyone — kids chasing sparklers, a polite corporate lawyer trying to make a good impression, and everyone in between. I’ve made this citrus white grape juice punch at summer gatherings for years because it’s bright and festive without requiring anyone to tend to it, which means I can actually watch from the kitchen window without worrying about whether there’s something to drink. It’s the kind of thing that just quietly does its job while everything else is beautifully, loudly falling into place around it.
Citrus White Grape Juice Party Punch
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 10 minutes | Servings: 16
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (64 oz) white grape juice, chilled
- 1 can (12 oz) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 1 can (12 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
- 1 liter lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7UP), chilled
- 1 cup pineapple juice, chilled
- 1 orange, thinly sliced into rounds
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds
- 1 lime, thinly sliced into rounds
- Ice ring or ice cubes, for serving
- Fresh mint sprigs, optional garnish
Instructions
- Chill everything. Make sure the white grape juice, pineapple juice, and soda are fully chilled before assembling. This keeps the punch cold longer without diluting it with extra ice.
- Combine the juices. In a large punch bowl, stir together the white grape juice, thawed lemonade concentrate, thawed orange juice concentrate, and pineapple juice until the concentrates are fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
- Add the soda. Just before serving, slowly pour in the chilled lemon-lime soda along the side of the bowl to preserve the carbonation. Stir gently once or twice.
- Garnish and serve. Float the orange, lemon, and lime slices on top. Add an ice ring or a generous amount of ice. Tuck in a few mint sprigs if desired. Serve immediately with a ladle.
- Make it a mocktail bar. Set out the punch alongside a few options — fresh fruit skewers, maraschino cherries, flavored simple syrups — so guests can customize their glass. Kids love this.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 130 | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Carbs: 33g | Fiber: 0g | Sodium: 15mg