The Sweet Tea

Aaaaaaaand, we're back.

Maybe.

I've been dealing with horrible internet connection for the past couple of days and a blip in my routine, so I'm not sure if this post is early, late or on time.  But here it is!

Due to a lack of fundage and creativity this week, you get my super special Southern Sweet Tea recipe.

In my opinion...better than Farmer's, better than McDonalds, better than Sonny's.  Maybe I'm just tooting my own horn here.



There are SO many different ways to make tea.  My Mom always made ours on the stove in a large saucepan.  I used to make it with an Iced Tea Maker.  But these days, I'm finding that this way is easiest for me.  It's also the closest that I've gotten to copying my Mom's recipe.

The 3 ingredients you'll need:

• Orange Pekoe & Pekoe Black Tea bags (Lipton, Luzianne, Store Brand, doesn't matter)
• Sugar
• Water

Start by filling a tea kettle with as much water as it can hold without overflowing.  Set it on the stove over high heat.  We all know I have zero patience waiting for water to boil, so do that before you do anything else.


Put tea bags in the bottom of a 2-quart, heat-proof pitcher.  If they are family-size tea bags, you'll need 3; if they are individual cup tea bags, you'll need 8, as shown above.


Next, add the sugar (see how mine covers the tea bags?).  Of course, it'll be your preference on how much you use.  I recommend anywhere from 1/2 cup to a full cup.  I use a full cup because we like it SWEET.  Cavity sweet!  You may also use the Splenda/Equal/Sweet n Low equivalent, or leave it unsweetened.

Once the kettle has started to whistle, pour the boiling water into the pitcher all the way up to just under the spout.  Let the pitcher sit for a bit, at least 20 minutes (this batch sat for a whole Glee episode, about 45 minutes).


Once the brewing process is complete, the tea bags should be a little cooler and easier to handle.  Take a long handled spoon and scoop the bags out.  Squeeze them into the pitcher (that's the concentrated tea flavor!) before throwing them in the garbage.  Now take the spoon and stir, concentrating on the bottom of the pitcher.  The sugar on the bottom turns into a sugar-syrup when mixed with the boiling water, so you want that mixed into the freshly brewed tea on the top.

And there you have it!  A southern staple (although I've seen plenty of country boys up here walking around with their half-gallons of tea, names written in permanent marker on the jugs)!

Next week, I'm going to reveal my newest recipe:  homemade hummus!  I'll show you how to make 30+ ounces of garlic-flavored hummus for less than half the price of the 10 ounce containers that you pay $3 a piece for!