I keep making this recipe because it's the best iced tea I've ever had. There's a secret ingredient in the tea: real mint leaves added while the tea is hot and steeping. The practical side of me likes the added benefit of making use of the mint that threatens to overrun a corner of my backyard.
The nostalgic side of me likes to pull out this recipe book because I get to remember what it was like to make this tea when I was young.
When making any recipe was a real accomplishment.
When I spent my summers reading in the shade on the patio swing.
When I built forts in the treeline with my best friend.
When my best friend and I climbed the old cherry trees in her yard and ate all the cherries we could reach.
When evenings were full of games of kick the can or ghost in the graveyard.
When summer stretched out in front of me like an endless expanse of possibility.
So I'm off now to make another batch of tea. You're welcome to join me.
9 comments:
Not to sound too Bob-Hope-ish (I think it was him) but Thanks for the Memories!
Mmm. I was just watching my 7-year-old son, who was curled into the corner of our sofa re-reading one of his favorites, and thinking this very same thing today.
Anytime, Dianne! (and not too Bob-Hope-ish at all!).
Yay to your 7-year-old reading, Ishta. And here's to both of us getting some reading time in this summer too.
I made my ice tea this morning -- you're right, it's really good! Thanks for the recipe and the mint. When I was a kid, Nancy Drew books were the birthday present of choice. As soon as the birthday girl read the latest book, it got passed amongst all the rest of us. To facilitate this, we all agreed that the giver had to promise to read the book before she gave it as a gift, so that we could pass it around the group of us as quickly as possible! How's that for organization??? Have a good weekend!
Glad you liked the recipe as much as I do LMacL. Great story about passing around the Nancy Drew books. You guys WERE organized, wow!
I must have missed seeing the recipe - or did you share it privately? I'd be interested in having it, too.
I recently enjoyed an interesting lemonade (non-alcoholic) drink at a friend's: she added Perrier and grenadine to PC Lemonade. Boy, was it yummy!!
I must have missed seeing the recipe, or had you shared it privately, Lizann? I'd like to have it, too.
I recently enjoyed delicious lemonade at a friend's house. She mixed PC Lemonade with Perrier and grenadine. Yummmmyyy!
I shared it privately, but I'll put it here as I have modified it slightly. Boil 8 cups of water. Add 2 tea bags and steep until dark. While this is still warm, add 2/3 cup sugar and mint leaves to taste (I use a good handful). When cooled to room temperature, remove tea bags and mint leaves; stir in the juice of 2 lemons. Serve over ice with more mint leaves as garnish. Enjoy!
Note that Nancy suggests reading the tea leaves in your tea bags after you've made the tea.
Thanks for sharing the recipe, Lizann! I am having friends over soon and I'm sure they will love this!
BTW, I enjoyed the article about you in CANSCAIP's recent issue :)
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