Holiday Punch Bowl Ice Ring

1. Clear a spot in your freezer that is level and measures at least 14x14-inches.

2. Place maraschino cherries in a pleasing design around the bottom of a 10- to 12-inch gelatin mold. Arrange mint leaves around the cherries, right-sides down (facing out and touching the mold).

3. Combine maraschino cherry juice in a bowl with 2 cups water; pour 1/2 inch into the mold on top of cherries and mint, reserve remaining liquid. Place mold in the freezer until partially frozen, about 1 hour.

4. Remove mold from the freezer and arrange green and gold kiwis on top of cherries. Use ice cubes and grapes to hold kiwi slices in place. Top with remaining ice and grapes. Carefully fill the mold with remaining water-juice mixture, and add more water as necessary to fill to the top edge of the mold. Place in the freezer until frozen solid, about 24 hours.

5. To unmold the ice ring, fill a bowl that is larger than the mold with 1 inch of hot water. Place the mold into the hot water until ice ring separates from the mold, about 1 minute. Transfer ice ring into your punch bowl and serve immediately.

Cook's Notes:

You don't have to use the maraschino cherry juice, you can just use water.

Sliced star fruit can be used in place of gold kiwi, if you can find it. Mint leaves simulate holly, but you can substitute rosemary twigs to suggest evergreen needles. Pomegranate arils would also be a nice addition.

When arranging the herb leaves and fruit, remember that anything touching the mold will be seen in the punch bowl. Imagine what you want your design to look like in the punch bowl and work out the design to your liking.