Jeana’s Journal

Many years ago a kind neighbor, with three little boys, shared her recipe for Fruit Punch Concentrate with me. My neighbor was frugal and, I believe, ahead of times in her approach to healthy eating. Not that this is necessarily a healthy drink, but the ratio of real fruit juice content is considerably higher than commercially prepared fruit punch and the cost per serving considerably lower. And, it tastes good!

From time-to-time I make this drink in the summertime. It makes a gallon of concentrate, so a thirsty season is a good time to make it. The concentrate keeps for a month in the refrigerator.

Fruit Punch Concentrate

46 oz. can of pineapple juice

12 oz can of frozen orange juice concentrate

5 lb. bag of granulated sugar

5 pkgs Cherry Kool-Aid powder (unsweetened)

5 pkgs Lemonade Kool-Aid powder (unsweetened)

Combine all ingredients (in order listed) in a 4 qt. pan saucepan and place on medium-low heat. Stir continuously to combine the ingredients and to melt the sugar. When the concentrate is no longer “gritty” (from the undissolved sugar) on the bottom, remove from heat and pour into a large storage container. (I use a jar with a wide mouth opening for easy measuring.) During this process my saucepan does not even get hot on the top edges. The sugar dissolves quickly and the concentrate is only gently heated to melt the sugar.

To make punch, measure five parts water to one part of concentrate. For example: Add five cups of water to one cup of concentrate.

Enjoy!