Tea for Two ~ or more...

Come along inside... We'll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.~The Wind in the Willow~

"Sweet Tea"

The Table Wine of the South

It never ceases to amaze me when folks actually ask me how to make sweet tea. I've just always assumed everyone knew how to make it. Imagine my surprise when I learned that if traveled too far North or South I might be forced to drink unsweetened or heaven forbid artificially sweetened tea.

Can artificial and sweet even be used in the same sentence?

Well with all that being said here is how I make Sweet Tea...

Start with 8 regular size tea ; bring to a boil in a small pot.

While tea is boiling measure 2.1/4 cups sugar into a gallon pitcher.

While tea is hot pour over sugar and stir so that all the sugar will dissolve.

Run cool water over tea bags in pot and gently pressbags to bring out more tea flavor.

Remove tea bags and discard, pour water into pitcher and then fill with cold water stirring until pitcher if filled.

Fill a glass with ice and pour yourself a glass of Sweet Tea and relax on the porch.

Granny's Olde Fashion Tea Cakes

1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter or shortening
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Pure vanilla Extract

Directions:
Cream together sugar and butter or shortening. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well. Gradually add flour, baking soda and salt, then add vanilla extract. Knead dough and roll it out on floured surface very thin. Cut with biscuit cutter or glass tumbler. Bake in 325 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 5 dozen


Lucious Lemon Squares

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, melted

4 eggs 2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5/8 cup lemon juice

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups flour and confectioners' sugar. Blend in the melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Combine the sugar, baking powder and 1/4 cup of flour so there will be no flour lumps. Stir the sugar mixture into the eggs. Finally, stir in the lemon juice. Pour over the prepared crust and return to the oven.
4. Bake for an additional 30 minutes or until bars are set. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.