Tea And Everything

 It's still steamy, hot weather.There's nothing like a tall glass of iced tea.It's great on it's own but it can be amped up with extras, from other cooling drinks to fruit. 

How to make a perfect pitcher of iced tea.it tarts with your favorite black tea.YOu can use herbal or green if you prefer but the best tasting really is black tea.Your best they is Earl Grey because the flavor has fruity under tones that work well chilled. Brew about five to six bags for a really strong drink. You can then let it cool add the tea and cold water. After that just add ice if you want an unsweetened kind.As for the sweetened variety , use simple syrup as opposed to just dumping sugar in .Simple syrup is easy.It's just cooking one cup of granulated sugar with one cup water. Bring to a boil and constantly stir until the sugar is dissolved. It keeps for one to two months and can be used for sweetening lemonade, cocktails and mocktails. What about stevia? You can use it if you are diabetic or want to lose weight. People in South Asia grown the plant in their yards and use the fresh leaves to sweeten tea.

A refreshing drink for any hot day is an Arnold Palmer, named for the famed golfer.It's three parts ,lemonade to one part iced tea but a tastier  version is half tea with half lemonade along with a glass filled with ice cubes. It started in a country club in Southern California when a lady saw Palmer sipping the drink at a country club restaurant. She wanted "that Arnold Palmer drink".It 's also called a Half and Half too. Another delicious ice tea variation is strawberry iced tea.This has either strawberry syrup or pureed berries in it. The recipe is similar to simple syrup but add two cups of pureed strawberries to it. Blueberry tea is another tasty drink. Just add bought blueberry syrup and add to taste. You could also float pineapple chunks in the iced tea too if you so desire.Pear and apple slices can be added to a pitcher for a different , fruitier take.If you want a different , kickier iced tea. splash in some rum. This is a fun cocktails for those warm summer night parties.

Nothing beats a glass of iced tea. Try it just plain or with add ins.It a refreshing sip on these still hot days,.

Summery Ades

 This is the time for a big glass of an icy drink. The summer lends its'elf to cool frosty lemonades and iced teas. They're just as easy to make as they are to drink.

Lemonade is a classic going back to ancient Egyptian times. There pharaohs drank it with dates mixed in for sweetness.As early as 1676 in Paris a company called Companie de Limonadiers sold the drink.In1833  the British combined lemonade and seltzer to more or less form the first lemon soda. here in the States it's a standard being made with freshly squeezed lemons, simple sugar and water. Everyone makes the mistake of adding just sugar. A simple syrup has to be cooked up first. This blends the best in any liquid , even cocktails and mocktails.It'sj ust cooking one cup of granulated sugar in a cup of water until you create a thin syrup. A good lemonade requires one cup of freshly squeezed lemonade, simple syrup and two to three cups of water to dilute it. Add plenty  of ice and stir. For a nice change try a strawberry lemonade.It just adding a half pound of hulled and pureed strawberries to the mix and stirring vigorously. Limeade is another fun drink with tropical vibes. Like lemonade it does require simple syrup and the juice of four to six Persian limes (what's sold in your grocery store). Squeeze and mix with the syrup and three cups of water. Mint can be added for flavor.

Iced tea is another homemade drink that 's been around since Marguerite Gardener, Lady Blessington, cohort of Lord Byron wrote about sipping it in Naples in 1823. It's a classic that 's grabbed the world by storm and is a summer must have. Like lemonade it's also easy to make. You need eight cups of water and six tea bags of black tea like Celestial Seasonings Earl Grey or English breakfast variety.  If you're not into black tea then try green or flavored tea. Celestial Seasonings has great fruit flavored herbal teas like tangerine orange that will make the drink punchy. It's just then brewing the bags in a saucepan for ten minutes. You should use eight cups of water.Any water filtered or tap can be used. As for sweeteners. granulated sugar works best but you can also add honey or agave syrup for a more organic and natural bent. Combine the tea with lemonade for the classic Arnold Palmer, always a fun accompaniment at a barbecue or summertime lunch. Fruit such as blueberries or strawberries can added for a tasty kick.Peach slices work too.

Nothing is more refreshing than a glass of lemonade,limeade or iced tea on a hot summer's day. Make any one to quench your thirst. It's a great way of cooling off.

Can Fast Food Be Diet Food

We've been constantly told that fast food is bad food. Everyone from doctors to diet gurus warn of its' side affects. Yet some places do offer healthier , sometimes lower calories . Can these smart choices help in shedding pounds? Possibly.

Many of us love Wendy's . It's  fast food that tastes almost like home made. You can eat healthy here. Their famed baked potato is only 270 calories if there's nothing loaded on top. If you want something  to top it then go for the free sour cream and margarine. The bacon cheese potato is 480 calories.. Have it with their Honest iced tea which is thirst quenching and diet perfect at only five calories. Wendy's also offers salads. One of the most filling and good for anyone watching his or her weight is the Power Mediterranean Salad which is only 250 calories for a small portion. This is a mix of  quinoa, chicken feta and hummus.If you,re craving more meat then settle on their Buffalo ranch slider at 220 calories or their grilled chicken sandwich which has 270. Dieters can  even have their beef and eat it too.Wendy's has a junior double cheeseburger that's only 280 calories.Are the other famed fast food restaurants that calorie conscious? Chck-Fil-A and KFC do have food that can fit into a regimented meal plan.KFC has a combo of grilled chicken and mashed potatoes for 430 calories. Chick-fil-a has unbreaded chicken nuggets for only 240 calories for five pieces.

Other fast food places can also be advantageous too. One of the best for low calorie food with a lot of flavor is Sarku. Their miso soup is only fifty calories, a perfect lunch on a cold, rainy day. They also offer shrimp and sushi which are surprisingly hearty fare despite the lightness. Th shrimp comes with white or brown rice along with a good scoop of green vegetables. Their California roll sushi is only three hundred calories but packed with flavorful shards of crab meat and avocado. Panera Bread can also offer some low calorie  foods, despite the fact it primarily sells calorie rich breads,. muffins, and cookies. Yet their breads are between 120 and 160 calories a slice - however, it's hard to just stop at once slice. Their loaves are beyond delicious. Luckily the chain offers smaller versions of their soups and salads along with half sandwiches, Their  halved Mediterranean veggie sandwich on tomato basil bread is only 220 calories. Wash it down with ten calorie Spindrift raspberry lime seltzer. Finish it with a mouthful of their coconut macaroon at only 140 calories. Or have the last with a five calorie espresso for a quick afternoon pick me up. Panera's flavored coffees are only twenty calories a cup and you can probably get it iced as well as hot.

Fast food can also be a dieter's food. It's just choosing wisely with your mind - not your stomach. Then you can enjoy a meal out without any guilt

Raise A Glass of Cider

This is the season for a chilled, heady glass of hard cider. it reflects the labors of the season as well as the abundance of a good harvest. The Times Dining section celebrated it in yesterdays' weekly column The Pour with Eric Asimov. Luckily Mr Asimov got to sample a few interesting ones at the Manhattan bar Dovetail. This make me envious of his job. Cider, refreshingly bracing and fruity crisp is probably the best drink out there.


I have always labored under the thought that most ciders were either English, American or French . Reading the article I found that there are refreshing Spanish one. One from the Basque hills was tried and found fresh and complex. It is not a sparkling clear brew but ratter a cloudy one. Mr. Asimov also tried ice cider. This is where cider is frozen and then the water is removed to create more of an apple wine. American ciders are also good if they're done right. Most of the ciders originate in New England in Either Vermont or new Hampshire, The bright red Redfield apple is primarily used . it gives cider it;s rich red wine like look and intricate flavor.

What was an even bigger surprise to me is that there is a pear cider. This makes sense because pears and apples are basically from the same family. There are also pear and apple ciders which sound heavenly . I can just imagine the taste of both fruits along with the kick of a good hard cider.

This is definitely the time for cider. the season calls for a heady cup of it . Not only that it;s a celebration of the harvest. It is the perfect drink for any fall feast !

Chill Out Foods For A Long Weekend

It's the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Even though it should be and is considered a solemn holiday to remember our armed forces, it's also a time of just chilling out. After all it's the first official weekend of Summer 2009. You can relax with some hot weather favorites whether in the back yard or at the beach.

The one foodie indulgence must have is a cold drink. Soda is fine but it can put on the calories and doesn't thoroughly quench your thirst. Homemade lemonade or limeade would do the trick better. If you don't have the time (or the energy) to make it then buy a jug of it from your local supermarket. if you want to liven it up add a splash of vodka to it along with more ice. Iced tea is refreshing, especially if it's fresh brewed with just the right amount of lemon and ice.

What 's a good snack after a hard day of yard work or a fun time at the beach? Crispy tortilla chips with salsa. These are less fattening than potato chips and you can make your own guacamole or veggie salsa. Kabobs are good for you and fun to nosh on. You can vary the meats and add the veggies you like. This is also a great way of baptizing the grill for the summer ahead.
Finish off with some ice from your local Rita's or homemade granita.

This weekend chill out with fun foods . Enjoy the first rays of the summer sun with a drink or munchies . Relax and eat well.