If I could be anywhere on Halloween, it'd be the Hogwarts great hall, where candles floated above the tables, the ghosts got sloppy drunk, and the iced pumpkin juice was plenty. I was always intrigued by the pumpkin juice. Is it a thing outside the world of Harry Potter? How is it made? Is it sweet or savory or full of pumpkin pulp? It took me until this year to realize that whether or not it exists, I could make my own version.
So here's the iced pumpkin juice of my childhood (and adulthood) imagination:
What you need:
-ice cubes
-pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin)
-apple juice
-ginger beer (or ale)
What you do:
1. Scoop 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree into a jar with a lid.
2. Add 1/3 cup apple juice to the jar. Seal the jar and shake it up til the puree and juice have combined into a smooth potion.
3. Pour the potion over ice, then top with 1/4 cup ginger beer.
The result is a smooth, chilled, sweet-savory concoction with subtle play of pumpkin, apple, and ginger. I'm into it. The one downside is the pumpkin does settle, so either make haste and drink up, or keep a spoon nearby to stir up the squashy sediment. And if you're doing it right, use your frothy pumpkin potion to wash down a feast of roast chicken, boiled potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding.
Happy Halloween!
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