I just finished laying tons of flagstones, some I pulled out of other people's yards that were re-landscaping and some I dug out of the side of a hill that was exposed after they made a new road. I poured concrete for risers and made a path with steps up the hill from the house to the studio. My daughters helped, but needless to say, I did most of the lifting and digging. 105F heat index with 100% humidity keeps you soaked in sweat, even if you are not doing anything. So, tons of water was consumed this summer, but when the work is done, and I want to keep spit in my mouth, I want something sweet. Relaxing in my own sweat, with my bulldog loaded with some LTF or Erinmore Flakes, nothing is as refreshing in the Southern heat as a tall glass of iced sweet tea. We make it five gallons at a time, and I thought that I would share the recipe for genuine Southern Sweet Tea with you guys.
First, boil a gallon of water in a large pot. Then when it comes to rolling boil, pull it off the stove and take it outside. Add three family sized bags of Liptons or Luisianne Tea, and two handfuls of fresh mint leaves. Let it set for five minutes. Then remove the Tea bags and as many of the mint leaves as you can fish out of there, but it's ok to leave some floaters. Stir in four cups of sugar. Many Southerners will add more or use Karo syrup, but I find this too thick and overwhelming for my tastes. Then add two sliced lemons, peels and all. Set aside.
Fill your five gallon container with ice. We use one that fits perfectly into the top shelf of the fridge with a convienient spigot in it. Then add the tea, and top off the container with cold water till it reaches the top. Leave the lemon slices and any floating mint that remains. It should be lighter in color than a cola, but darker than lemonaid, a nice smokey topaz color.
Fill a glass with ice, a few sprigs of mint, and pour in some tea. Refills will set in the fridge for up to a week, and you can have cold sweet tea at any time during the day.
Then, when the cicadas are humming their shamans rattles to vibrate your brain while you shade yourself under the sickeningly sweet magnolias and mimosa trees with their
Dr Seuss looking pink blooms, you can smoke your fruity Erinmore while sipping your tea, relaxing, and getting the grill ready to smoke some ribs. It doesn't get more Southern than that without a banjo or beautiful women in tube tops and Daisy Dukes.
...like liquid sunshine.
First, boil a gallon of water in a large pot. Then when it comes to rolling boil, pull it off the stove and take it outside. Add three family sized bags of Liptons or Luisianne Tea, and two handfuls of fresh mint leaves. Let it set for five minutes. Then remove the Tea bags and as many of the mint leaves as you can fish out of there, but it's ok to leave some floaters. Stir in four cups of sugar. Many Southerners will add more or use Karo syrup, but I find this too thick and overwhelming for my tastes. Then add two sliced lemons, peels and all. Set aside.
Fill your five gallon container with ice. We use one that fits perfectly into the top shelf of the fridge with a convienient spigot in it. Then add the tea, and top off the container with cold water till it reaches the top. Leave the lemon slices and any floating mint that remains. It should be lighter in color than a cola, but darker than lemonaid, a nice smokey topaz color.
Fill a glass with ice, a few sprigs of mint, and pour in some tea. Refills will set in the fridge for up to a week, and you can have cold sweet tea at any time during the day.
Then, when the cicadas are humming their shamans rattles to vibrate your brain while you shade yourself under the sickeningly sweet magnolias and mimosa trees with their
Dr Seuss looking pink blooms, you can smoke your fruity Erinmore while sipping your tea, relaxing, and getting the grill ready to smoke some ribs. It doesn't get more Southern than that without a banjo or beautiful women in tube tops and Daisy Dukes. ...like liquid sunshine.
