I prefer simple and these are the simplest party drink recipes I know. Okay, the strawberry lemonade is a little complicated, but it can be made weeks ahead and is absolutely delightful.

• Water with sliced lemons and limes
• Juice
• Soda
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Andria's Holiday Cider
• Rootbeer Float
• Orange Cream Float
• Fizzy Sherbert

4 quarts strawberries, hulled
4 cups lemon juice
3 quarts water

6 cups sugar
Lemon-lime soda

Use fresh or freshly thawed strawberries. In a blender or food processor, puree the strawberries. Place in a large kettle; add lemon juice, water and sugar. Bring to 165˚ over medium heat, stirring occasionally (do not boil). Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Cool in refrigerator if serving in a day or two. 

Otherwise, you can bottle the mixture. Pour hot mixture into hot jars, leaving ¼” headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath. To serve, mix about ⅓ concentrate with ⅔ soda or ginger ale. Yield: about 6 quarts concentrate.

2 cups water
1 ½ cups sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
42 oz. 7-Up
3 cups cranberry juice

Chill fruit juice and 7-U

p. Simmer water, sugar and cinnamon for 10 minutes. Set aside for several hours. Before serving remove cinnamon sticks from syrup. Combine all ingredients. Garnish with lime, lemon or orange slices and cranberries.

Vanilla Ice Cream

Put 1-3 scoops of vanilla ice cream in each cup. Slowly pour soda over the ice cream. It will foam up a lot. After the fizz dies down, fill with a little more soda. Serve immediately.

2 quart sherbert (any flavor)

Select a solid color sherbert. The rainbow sherberts looks a little yucky when mixed in the drink. Soften the sherbert then slowly and carefully mix with the soda. Add one bottle of soda if you like the sherbert thick, and two bottles for a thinner drink. It's wonderful both ways.