Making An Ice Ring

Ice rings are popular for punch bowls as decorations and for chilling the punch. Since you want to avoid watering down the punch flavor, use ginger ale or clear fruit juices instead of water to make ice ring. Pour the liquid into a ring mold to a depth of 3/4 inch. Freeze solid. Arrange fruits, unsprayed leaves and rose buds or mint sprigs over the frozen liquid.

Carefully pour in another 1/4 inch of liquid and freeze again to hold decorations in place. When solid, fill the ring mold with liquid and freeze until ready to use. Unmold by dipping mold into a bowl of warm water. Place frozen ring in well chilled punch.