Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

National Iced Tea Month


June is National Iced Tea Month
Appropriate since June is also the month of the summer solstice!
A pitcher of iced tea is always in the fridge in the summer
It's our summer drink
(although sometimes I do enjoy a cup of hot tea in the afternoon -- even when it's Kansas hot outside!)


My grandmother's pitcher which she used for iced tea or lemonade
(both summertime drinks)
A crochet milk jug cover -- to keep out the flies
All on a tray covered by an embroidered guest towel which makes a great tray cloth!
The glasses filled with ice and the tea garnished with garden mint


A friend came by and I just happened to have made lemon bars
A great go-with for the lemony minty iced tea


All placed on a tray and taken outside to the front porch
It faces east, it's screened so even on hot afternoons it is a cool place to sit.
The tray placed on the table between the rockers.

We nibbled and sipped and visited and talked as we rocked the afternoon away.

The tea is called Planation Tea, found long ago in a bed and breakfast cookbook.
It's a bit fussy, but it is a good iced tea!

PLANTATION ICED TEA

4 family size tea bags (Lipton or Luzianne)
1/2 c. packed fresh mint leaves, crushed
6 ounces lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 cups sugar

Pour 1 quart hot water over the tea bags and crushed mint.    Let steep for 4 to 5 minutes.     Strain and pour into a gallon container containing the sugar and lemonade concentrate.    Stir well to dissolve sugar.

Repeat steeping with another quart of hot water.   (Same tea bags, same mint).    Pour into container.     Add 1 quart of cold water to tea bags and mint and steep (again 4 to 5 minutes); repeat with another quart of cold water.     Discard tea bags and mint.

Chill, well covered.     Tea only keeps well 1 - 2 days; make new — tea is inexpensive.    (It doesn’t last that long at Linderhof!)



I'm sharing my porch tea in honor of National Iced Tea Month on this, the last day of June with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.








11 comments:

Francie Newcomb said...

Thank you so much for this recipe Martha.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

What are the weights on the crocheted milk jug cover? That is a great idea and I have several pretty crocheted pieces that recently were shared with me. I could create something with a little fabric.

Sarah said...

Another name for ice tea with lemonade is an Arnold Palmer. ;-)
It's a refreshing drink, but my drink of choice is plain unsweetened ice tea with lemon.
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'd like to sit on your porch and enjoy a glass of this ice cold treat.

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Martha, your iced tea looks just wonderful! I love the crocheted cloth over the pitcher; charming! Lemon bars sound lovely too. While my son was home we had lemon everything because he loves lemon. Too cold for iced tea here just yet and the cold damp weather we've had has made the mosquitoes the worst ever. Unfortunately we don't have a screened in porch so we have to sit inside and have our tea. Enjoy your tea on the porch and thank you for linking up with me for Tea Time. Happy 4th of July!

Blessings,
Sandi

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Another delicious day at Linderhof!

Snap said...

I bet the Plantation tea is wonderful! I put a bit of lemonade in my iced tea during the summer. Thanks for the recipe. I'm going to try it! Beautiful glass. Happy Monday!

Gina @ VictorianWannaBe said...

Hi Martha,
Your grandmother's pitcher is beautiful! You have made me want tea, I am going to go down now and make some. I like green tea sweetened with honey.
Have a glorious week leading up to the 4th.
Gina

Tea in Texas said...

This a special place to to share tea on the porch! Your tray is so lovely and I'm sure your friend enjoyed the tea time! Your grandmother's pitcher is so beautiful The lemon bars are yummy looking. Have a great week!

Take care, Pam

Rue said...

How lovely! Tea and lemon bars sounds wonderful to me :)

Have a beautiful day, Martha and thank you so much for your sweet words on my 100th post.

xo,
rue

Margie said...

Very nice, Martha! Happy National Iced Tea Month!

Bernideen said...

Your iced tea looks so refreshing and I imagine that picture is definitely a 2 handed job! What a beautiful piece of glass. Lovely setting.