Lime Sherbet Mocktail-not just for weddings anymore

I'm always looking for a new mocktail recipe to serve poolside during the summer.  After all, you can only drink so many diet sodas or lemonades . For some reason, I can't get the lime sherbet punch served at summer weddings out of my mind. You know the punch I'm talking about.  Just about everyone from the local Church Lady to Paula Deen has a recipe for it.  We don't have a lot of weddings in the summer here in Phoenix (like we always say, "If the wedding can't wait  until October, it's not really love.")   So, it looks like I'm going to have to make it myself.  The only problem is... I forgot to invite  two hundred of my closest friends over to swim today.

The best part of this drink is the little lumps of half frozen sherbet that float on the top of the punch and leave a "got lime?" mustache with every sip.  It's hard to keep that semi-frozen state for very long, so I decided to prep all of the ingredients separately and mix the drinks in individual servings,  like a bartender might do.

First, I scooped the lime sherbet into small balls with a two ounce ice cream scoop and returned them to the freezer.  Then I set up a "bar" area on the patio with all the shakers, jiggers and glasses we would need.  I put the chilled ginger ale, chilled pineapple-orange juice and sherbet scoops into an ice chest with ice packs and brought them out just as the fun was about to start.

The drinks were a big hit.  Preparing them separately made sure that the last drink was as frozen as the first.  You can let your family and friends try their hand at mixing their own drink.

Lime Sherbet Mocktail

serves 10

20 oz lime sherbet, scooped into 2 oz scoops

20 oz ginger ale or 7up

10 0z pineapple juice or pineapple-orange juice blend

2 limes, sliced

Put 1 scoop of lime sherbet into shaker.  Add 2 oz of ginger ale or 7up (use a jigger to measure).  Add 1 0z of pineapple juice.  Shake until just mixed. The sherbet should still have lumps.  Pour into a chilled 5 to 6 oz glass.  Garnish with a slice of lime.

Here are some other drinks that look good your summer party:

Tropical Pineapple Coconut Banana Smoothie- Baking Bites

Sparkling Ginger and Lime Cooler-Steamy Kitchen

Pomegranate Cooler- ecurry