Iced Decanter Adds More Fun to the Party

By Hklbrries

Planning a summer party? On a budget? Fill an easy-to-freeze ice decanter with fresh lemonade for your next neighborhood party. It's a frozen party asset that won't break the bank.

Ingredients

• You'll need:
• 1 clean, empty half-gallon standard cardboard milk, orange juice or lemonade carton with top opened wide
• 1 empty and clean liter-size glass sparkling water or wine bottle with top labels removed
• Fresh fruits such as lemon, orange, lime and strawberries
• Fresh dill or mint
• Masking tape
• Funnel

Details

Adapted from donnasday.com

Preparation

Step 1

Here's the Fun:

Cut off the top portion of the juice carton, or keep it in place with the top portion left opened wide. (If you don't cut it, you could fill it near the top with the water so the ice reaches to the bottle's neck). Set the bottle in the center of the carton, and fill it a quarter full with water.

Let kids tuck sprigs of dill or mint and several thick lemon, orange or lime slices in the water around the bottle. Set tape over the top of the bottle and attach to outer sides of the carton to keep bottle in place in the center of carton. Freeze.

Remove the carton from the freezer, fill with more water, fruit slices and herbs until the water reaches close to the top of the carton. Refreeze.

Tear off the carton with your kids to reveal the surprise creation. You may need to run warm water around the carton, or an adult may cut the length of the carton with a knife to release it easily.

Set a funnel on the mouth of the bottle and fill it with lemonade or your preferred beverage. Place the filled ice decanter on a rimmed plate lined with a thin towel. Wrap and tie a cloth napkin around the lower portion of the ice block for easy handling.

Extra idea: Make a floral ice sculpture. Fill the carton with water and add short-stemmed flowers and freeze. The flowers will be suspended in the ice encasing the bottle.