Carol’s Comfort Foods

Sweet ice tea is a mainstay in the South.  There are numerous recipes for sweet tea, but the good ones all have one thing in common – the use of simple syrup as the sweetener, as opposed to granulated sugar.  Granulated sugar does not dissolve well in cold water and if you sweeten the tea with it you can sometimes get a “grainy” feel to the tea and the sugar settling down in the bottom of the glass.  Any brand of tea can be used, but my personal favorite is Luzianne.  

INGREDIENTS

Simple Syrup

1 cup water

2 cups granulated sugar

PREPARATION

Bring water to a boil and then stir in the sugar.  Cook until the sugar dissolves completely and then remove from heat.  Allow to cool to room temperature.

Tea

3 family-sized tea bags

Pinch of baking soda

PREPARATION

Bring 3-4 cups of water to a boil.  Add a pinch of baking soda to the water and add 3 family sized tea bags.  Remove from heat, cover and let steep for at least 20 minutes.  Pour into a gallon pitcher and add cold water.  Add simple syrup to taste.  Refrigerate. 

In case you’re wondering….. a small bit of baking soda reduces the bitterness in the tea.

Yield: 1 Root Beer Float 

INGREDIENTS

2-3 scoops of good vanilla ice cream

1 – 8 ounce bottle of your favorite root beer

1 – glass beer mug – frosted

PREPARATION

Approximately ½ hour before assembling the float, place your mug in the freezer and chill.  Remove mug and pour about 3-4 ounces of root beer into the bottom of the mug.  Add 1 scoop of ice cream.  Pour another 2 ounces of root beer over the ice cream.  Add another scoop of ice cream on top and then fill the mug to the top with the remaining root beer.   

3 oz peach nectar
Dash of grenadine
1 oz lemon juice
Pour ingredients into a champagne flute and add approximately 4 ounces of club soda.

Stir and enjoy.

This classic is always a hit with both kids and adults.

One part orange juice
One part 7-up
One part Ginger-Ale
Dash of grenadine
Mix ingredients into a collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

1 tablespoon Orgeat Syrup
6 ounces Hot Chocolate

Mix in pousse cafe glass.