Refreshing Iced Tea

The perfect drink for a hot summer day!  I have been making a fresh pitcher of this stuff at the beginning of each week and it has really helped to beat the summer heat! Sometimes you get tired of chugging glasses of water and want a little more flavor to quench that thirst.  This is easy to make, refreshing, and great to have on hand for any guest who may stop by for a quick visit.

Yield:  2 quart


6 tea bags--- (I use Green Tea bags or Decaffeinated Orange Pekoe Black Tea)
2 quarts Water
1/3 cup Sugar
Ice
Mint leaves, lemon optional


Pour 3 cups of water into a sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and add tea bags.  Let steep for 5 minutes.

Add ice and sugar to pitcher and fill half way with cold water.  Stir.


Remove tea bags.  When steeped tea is cooled down a bit pour into ice pitcher.  You will want to make sure this is not hot water so you don't crack the pitcher.


Stir to combine.  Add more water if necessary to make a full pitcher.  Add lemon juice and mint leaves if you enjoy the taste.

(I added a couple of Sweet Basil leaves to this tea and it offered a very nice flavor)

Serve in glass filled with ice and relax while sipping this delightful beverage!

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy

Fruit Smoothie

This is so refreshing after spending the day in the sun!  The last time I made these smoothies, I added a little less milk to make them thicker like a sorbet.  When I come home from the grocery store I wash and cut the strawberries in half, removing the steam. I add the blueberries and strawberries to a freezer bag and store in freezer. I place bananas whole with steams on directly into freezer.  When I am ready to use them I cut the ends off of the banana and cut in half.  Then I stand the banana on a cut side and trim off the peel (like you would when you cut corn off of the cob).  You can add any frozen fruit you prefer (cantaloupe, pineapple, just bananas or berries...) Be sure to drink it fast before it melts in this hot summer heat!

Yield 4 smoothies


1 carton frozen strawberries
1/2 pint frozen blueberries
2 frozen bananas 
2 Tbsp sugar (this is optional but I think the frozen strawberries sometimes taste bitter so I add a little bit of sugar)
1/2 cup to 1 cup milk (more or less depending on how thick or thin you like it and also how many servings you need to get)


Add Frozen Fruit, Sugar, and Milk to blender.  Blend until smooth.


Pour into glasses (or bowls) serve with straw.


Drink (or eat with spoon) and enjoy!

Sweet Dreams,
Cindy