Audie-Leigh makes 4!
Punch bowls recall the high school prom with that ne’er-do-well trouble-maker (you forget his name) sneaking whiskey into the punch, and that dry wedding where you wished someone would sneak whiskey into the punch bowl after an un-air-conditioned, two-hour ceremony in 90-degree heat.
Others think of “punch” as a non-alcoholic sugary concoction favored by children. But according to David Woodrich’s book, “Imbide!”: “… for nearly 200 years, from the 1670s to the 1850s, the Kingdom of Mixed Drinks was ruled by the Bowl of Punch.” The rich history of punch led to the development of the modern cocktail, the first published cocktail recipe appearing in 1831.
Woodrich writes in his other book, “Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl” that “…Punch should not be the strength of a cocktail. It’s got to be something considerably less dangerous.” I tip my glass to Mr. Woodrich; especially if the punch is honoring someone not yet of legal age, in our family’s case, a baby girl — just shy of three months.
My stepson, Brian, and his wife, Justina, recently gave birth to their fourth child — Richard and I were honored to host the christening party last Sunday, tradition insisting a festive punch be a part of the after-church celebration, the champagne served on the side for those of legal age.
Justina’s friend, Mary Williams of Cakes by Mary (734-741-1753), created a beautiful cake honoring the celebration. Welcome to the world, Audie-Leigh!
