Sometimes you want something besides sweet tea or lemonade.  This is absolutely the best slushy drink in the universe, and you can vary the juices to suit what you have or your own taste.

Sweet Tea Punch

1/2 cup sugar or to taste
2 cups sweet tea
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 c key lime juice
2 1/2 cups orange juice
2 cups pineapple juice

4 cups ginger ale or cream soda (not red)

Freeze the first six ingredients.

At serving time thaw the frozen juice enough to become slushy and add the gingerale or cream soda.  Serve garnished with a ripe strawberry.

makes about 24 cups

Image:MaryeAudet 

Post from: Kettle and Cup

Yesterday it hit 100. Was it only a few weeks ago that it was cold? It seems like it. Now the house gets too hot in the afternoons to do much other than read a book in front of the fan.

Actually, like many of the modern amenities I think that air conditioning is highly over rated. Yes, it keeps you comfy and cool..but consider that we have been taken far out of the natural cycle of things. Summer afternoons were a time to slow down, sit on the porch and sip a lemonade or iced tea, and watch the world go by. Now, summer, winter fall and spring are all a long cycle of sameness.

It is sad that we have caused ourselves to be so driven. While we have more helpful gadgets than ever we are working longer hours, relaxing less, and stressing out more. Maybe we all need to take a day, turn off the A/C and just relax in the back yard with our feet in the kiddie pool. Or maybe go fishing…or play in the hose.

That’s Matt, a few years ago, after he taught himself how to catch catfish by hand. No hook, no bait. The kids lives and breathes fishing. He kept disappearing up into his room over the last few weeks, and finally emerged with this:

He taught himself how to make a fishing net.

Anyway… Here we freeze our backsides off in the winter and overheat in the summer..and we like it that way! LOL!

This green tea slush is so refreshing that it will cool you down almost instantly. Vary the flavors of the green tea, and of the fruit, to vary the slush..and don’t forget about the Monin coffee syrups. You can make a huge variety of drinks with those!

Green Tea Slush

3 cups prepared green tea
1 cup ripe watermelon, seeded and chopped

1 1/2 cups crushed ice
1 Tbsp. honey or sugar, to taste

Blend in a blender until slushy and smooth. Pour into frosted glasses and serve garnished with mint.

Image:Morguefile

Images:Marye Audet 

Post from: Kettle and Cup