Simple Syrup
An easy way to add sugar to beverages. Keep some in the fridge
Bring equal parts of granulated sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Boil for about 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Stir; remove from heat and cool completely. Store in a jar in fridge.
Basic Southern Sweet Iced Tea
Bring 4 cups cold water to a boil. Add 4 family-size Luzianne tea bags.
(or your favorite brand of tea bags) Turn off heat; cover and steep for 15 minutes. (don’t boil; that makes tea bitter) Remove
from heat & discard tea bags. Meanwhile, pour 6 cups cold water and 1½ of cups sugar into a large pitcher, stirring till sugar
is dissolved. Add warm tea and stir. Refrigerate until cold. Pour over ice tea glasses full of ice and serve with a lemon wedge. A
real Southern treat! Makes a little over ½ gallon
Microwave Iced Tea: Bring 4 cups cold water in a large measuring cup
to a boil; add 8 regular size tea bags (or 4 family-size) and steep for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and pour into a pitcher; add
1 cup sugar, stirring to dissolve. Add 4 cups cold water. Makes 2 quarts
Coffee Maker Method: Put tea bags in coffee basket;
fill pot with water and let it run down through tea bags. Put 1 to 1½ cups sugar in a pitcher. Add brewed tea and finish filling with
cold water.
Note: Sam’s Club carries the box of 48 gallon-size Lipton tea bags
Note: For a slightly weaker tea, Steep the tea bags in ½ gallon boiling water and add ½ gallon cold water at the end (following the above directions). Restaurants make it this way, using a one gallon-size tea bag.
Summer Party Fruit Punch
1 cup simple syrup
2, 48-oz cans pineapple juice
12-oz. can frozen orange juice, thawed, undiluted
12-oz.
can frozen lemonade, thawed, undiluted
10-oz. pkg. frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
2 quarts ginger ale
Ice
Combine fruit juices,
strawberries and simple syrup. When ready to serve, add the ginger ale and a block of ice.
Taste for sweetness, may need to add more simple syrup.
Makes about 40 servings.
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
A great summer cook-out dessert
Crust:
2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels
¾ cup butter, melted
3 Tbsp. sugar
Mix together and press firmly into bottom
of a 9x13 baking pan.
Bake at 375º for about 8 minutes. Cool.
Filling:
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese,
softened
1 cup sugar
8-oz. carton Cool Whip, thawed
Beat cream cheese and sugar together. Fold in Cool Whip and spread over cooled
crust. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes.
Topping:
1, 6-oz. package strawberry Jello
2 cups boiling water
Dissolve Jello in boiling water.
Refrigerate and let congeal to the consistency of egg whites, about 15 minutes.
Then stir in:
2, 10-oz. pkgs. frozen sliced strawberries,
thawed
Pour over cream cheese layer and chill until firm.
To serve, cut into 12 squares.
Keep some simple syrup in a squeeze bottle in fridge to
add to hot coffee or cold drinks.