Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Slush

One holiday food tradition I grew up with has surprised most everyone I tell with it's weirdness. I still keep it, though, because I love it dearly, and really, Christmas is not Christmas without it.

Slush is a sweet concoction that is simple to make and delicious to drink. The weirdness is that it is an icy cold beverage that you drink throughout the freezing winter months. I don't mind. At all.

Slush (Tradition begun by Nana, my paternal grandmother, continued by my mother)
4 c sugar
6 c water
5 bananas mashed (immersion blender works well)
3 cups orange juice
2 lemons, juiced
1 quart pineapple juice

Dissolve the sugar in the water, then add all the other ingredients. Stir well, pour into containers and put them in the freezer. After a couple of hours take it out and stir it. Then stir every hour or two until it is rather slushy, being sure to scrape the sides. This way all your banana doesn't end up on the top (or bottom). Then let it freeze solid.

To drink, scrape as much as you want into a glass, add 7-up and drink! A very important part of this tradition is to drink it while eating potato chips and onion dip (especially while playing games or watching Christmas movies). The salty/fat and the sweet/tart/refreshing complement each other perfectly.
Note: Wash or at least rinse out the glasses right after you drink so you don't have to scrub them clean later. You'll thank me.