Summer – brings to mind warm days,
family gatherings, sun, and fun. The last few weeks have been very
busy. Sorry I haven't blogged. There wasn't much time or energy for
entertaining. But I need to remind myself entertaining for two is
just as important as doing so for a group of friends.
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| Fete Avec Moi |
Recently at our local Christmas Tree
Store, I found the greatest glasses. They look like a clear glass
slipped inside a Ball Jar with a lid and straw. Perfect for summer
days and nights (anti-bug design).
Last year, I remembered you don't need
to waste your money on iced tea powder chemical garbage. My mom and
her friend, Anita (who growing up always had a pitcher of the most
delicious iced tea ready to serve) always made theirs from regular
tea bags. They brewed real tea, then let it cool and poured over ice.
But during the course of the summer last year, I discovered that you
don't actually need to heat the tea. Many companies now make cold
brew tea bags. Our local target tonight had 2 boxes of 24 cold brew
tea bags on sale for $4.50. I am horrible at math but won't this come
down to something like $.10 a pitcher.
Now during this year, I learned about
water infusions. Adding cucumbers, lemons, oranges or other fruits
and vegetables to your water can alter the flavor. So now I combine
both ideas. Into my pitcher I slice a lemon or two or an orange,
sweeten lightly (maybe a tablespoon of sugar to the whole thing),
hang a tea bag (any flavor – cold brew or hot brew) off the side,
fill with water. Refrigerate for a few hours. Remove the tea bag.
Yes, I hear my mother's warnings about not letting the tea bags sit
for too long or the tanic acid builds up. And for the rest of the day
I have a nice pitcher of infused iced tea. You might like to try it
too. My favorite blend so far has been an orange sliced with a
blueberry acai tea bag. What combination works for you? I'd love to
hear what you have come up with.
