‘Tis the season to be jolly. And what could be jollier than a seasonal cocktail? Nothing. Except maybe a seasonal cocktail that won’t weigh you down while you deck the halls! Believe me, I love eggnog, grasshoppers, and coffee with Bailey’s. But this year I am leaving the cream and shortening in my cookies, not my drinks. As I continue with the battle between staying fit and getting lit, let me share with you my favorite holiday beverage:
The Jensen Family Brandy Slush 
Prep time: 30 minutes
Guaranteed overall readiness time: 24 hours (to freeze) & 30 minutes
This recipe hails from my mother-in-law’s family. How happy I was to marry into a family with a signature holiday drink! This recipe serves many, so it is perfect for family get-togethers, or Exile on Main Street Employee Appreciation parties, as it was most recently served!
You will need:
2 cups sugar
4 tea bags
1 can frozen orange juice
1 can frozen lemonade
2 cups brandy
1 2-liter of 7up
First, leave orange juice and lemonade cans out to thaw slightly. Next, combine 2 cups of sugar and 6 cups of water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, or until sugar is totally dissolved. Remove from heat. Next, put four teabags in 2 cups of water and bring to boil. The Jensen family uses black tea, and the result is very tasty.
This year, all I had was blackberry tea, so I used that, and it got rave reviews with my mother-in-law and brother-in-law, who said they preferred the extra sweetness. Remove tea from heat. Combine tea, sugar water, and brandy. Now add the cans of lemonade and orange juice. Stir until everything is blended. Put it in the freezer overnight; it can take up to 24 hours to freeze!
When you are ready to serve, get out a large spoon and shave layers from the top of the frozen mix and put in a rocks glass until almost full. Then, top off the glass with 7up. Give your guests a straw so they can smush the drink to a slush consistency. Add more 7up as desired.
Next time I make this I am going to try Diet 7up for an even lighter version! If you find you are still craving a creamy beverage after making this recipe, you should still have some brandy leftover to add to Silk Soy Nog. Enjoy!