Coffee punch

"Rich enough to take the place of dessert at a luncheon."

1 gallon strong coffee
1-3/4 cups sugar
1 pint heavy cream
1 gallon vanilla ice cream
Homemade Coffee Liqueur, optional

1. Dissolve sugar in hot coffee and chill.
2. Add heavy cream. Stir well. Return to refrigerator.
3. At serving time, pour coffee mixture into punch bowl. Add ice cream, either broken into small chunks or made into scoops.
4. Stir in coffee liqueur to taste, if desired.

(Yield: 60 cups.)

Must do ahead.

Hint: Any leftover punch can be frozen and used later as a "coffee ice."

Source: Junior League of Rochester, "Applehood & Motherpie: Handpicked Recipes from Upstate New York" (4th printing, 1982); recipe by Nancy L. Brown.