Today I stepped out onto my patio, subconsciously prepared for my ears to be assaulted by the screeching noise of a row of trees full of summer-time Cicadas.
You may have noticed I hate that sound. If you follow me on facebook, you know I hate that sound.
But today I was greeted with something entirely different.
It was just quiet. A gentle breeze rustling the leaves which will soon begin to fall.
An occasional bird.
And no cicadas! I can’t begin to tell you the joy that filled my soul.
Aah, fall is coming! It’s finally cool enough to sit outside without melting. And, did I mention, no Cicadas?
It’s a perfect time to sit on the patio and sip Sweat tea, or, even better, Sweet Peach Tea.
We were happy campers when we discovered the Peach Sweet Tea at Sonic. I think we may have ordered it a little too often. I even got a friend hooked on it by mistake! We were on our way to “mind the kitchen” at a weekend youth group retreat when we decided we needed some tea. She ordered regular (boring) sweet tea, I ordered peach. They brought our teas and we got on the road. She took a sip and discovered they had brought her a peach tea as well.
About two weeks later she told me it’s all my fault. She can’t hardly drive by without getting a Peach Sweet Tea! I wasn’t sure if I should say “I’m sorry” or “you’re welcome!”
But the beauty eventually came to a sudden and sad end.
There we were, as a family, reading the Sonic sign, ready to order some tea, when we noticed a significant change.
The Peach Sweet Tea (along with many other items on the menu) now has Splenda in it. (YUCK)
If you don’t know by now, I’ll just tell ya, there is no way Splenda is going in my body.
Nope. Not even for peach tea.
So, no more Sonic peach tea.
But all is not lost, because as it turns out, peach tea is just not all that difficult to make. (YAY!)
A little tea, a little (lot) of (real) sugar, some (real) peaches; you’re in business!
So, between the exodus of the Cicadas and this beautiful pitcher of tea, I’m a happy girl.
Here’s the recipe:
- For the peach syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 fresh ripe peaches, sliced
- For the tea:
- 4 tea bags (or one family sized tea bag)
- 4 cups boiling water
- **Start the tea 30 minutes prior to serving
- In a small saucepan, bring syrup ingredients to boil.
- Reduce heat to low.
- Crush peach slices against the side of the pan to release juices.
- Remove from heat, cover and let sit for 30 minutes.
- In a heat proof pitcher, pour 4 cups of just barely boiling water.
- Add the 4 tea bags and let stand 5-7 minutes.
- Remove tea bags and refrigerate.
- After 30 minutes, strain the syrup through a fine strainer and pour into tea.
- Serve over ice.
**Did I mention this is also less expensive than Sonic’s peach tea? Yeah, we’re eating better AND spending less!
And, as promised in this post, here’s how I make this recipe “when I feel like it.”
This one’s easy. I make it in the morning. (I actually let the peaches sit in the syrup until we’re ready to eat then I put the syrup and the tea together.)
Enjoy!
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