Pink Champagne Punch Recipe-February 2024-www.zdask.com

　　Active Time

　　10 minutes

　　Total Time

　　1 1/2 hours

　　This pretty-in-pink punch is a festive and delicious way to kick-off your holiday celebration. If you prefer a punch that's less sweet, use fresh squeezed pomegranate juice instead of bottled (see Cooks' Notes).

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

　　1 1/4 cups water

　　1/4 cup sugar

　　2 (4-inch long) strips lemon zest

　　1 cup chilled bottled pomegranate juice

　　3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

　　1 750 milliliter bottle chilled pink sparkling wine or champagne

Accompaniment:

lemon twists

Step 1

Bring water, sugar, and lemon zest to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar, then boil 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add pomegranate and lemon juice, then chill until very cold, at least 1 hour.

Step 2

Just before serving, pour pomegranate syrup into a 2-quart glass pitcher and add champagne.

　　Cooks' Notes:

　　•Syrup can be made 2 days ahead and kept chilled.

　　•To squeeze juice from fresh pomegranates, halve them horizontally and squeeze them, like oranges, with a reamer.