a tea bar

Hi Y'all!  We hosted our family's Easter gathering this year and as I was thinking of what to serve to drink I an idea!  Yay!  I am not one to drink carbonated soft drinks so I didn't want to buy up two liters that would be left at my disposal.  The guys generally complain about pre-mixed fruit tea.  Dad is the only one who can drink coffee with lunch.  So I felt to please everyone I would offer sweet tea and ice water.  A week or so before the day I remembered a day last fall when my friend Christal and I ventured to a barn sale in Lebanon, Tennessee where we were absolutely delighted, when we got through the tea and lemonade line, to find an assortment of additions for our drinks.  On a hot day it was so fun to add sliced strawberries, fresh mint and lavender water to our lemonade and tea.  So, in remembrance of the fruition, I decided to have a tea bar!

I sliced strawberries, lemons, oranges and pineapple and purchased a couple of fresh mint plants from the produce section at the grocery (planted them in pots later).   Well, you never know how things will turn out but this tea bar turned out fantastic!  All of the ladies had so much fun with it and even a few of the guys!  We flavored our water and tea with all the goodies and felt our posture rise at the feeling of a tea party on a yummy warm Easter day!

theeyy'rre baaacck

after seeing a few tiny black foreign beings flying around my house, i realized that I needed to look up my homemade recipe for gnat juice.  i honestly don't know why they come in this time of year.  maybe it's the (very few) tomatoes brought in from the garden and left to ripen in the window sill or maybe they just fly in when the doors open and close in the evenings.  regardless... they get in somehow and must be dealt with in a serious manner. 

 

i mixed up a batch of my infamous gnat juice and y'all, i kid you not, i had one swirling around the air right over the mixing bowl as i was pouring it into the decorative small jars and candle holders i chose to display my potion in.  this recipe makes enough for me to have  one in the kitchen, dining room, pantry and bathroom.  for some reason they like the moisture and humidity in there.  or maybe they just like to annoy me in there.  either way, they must go.  the recipe is simple and it goes a little something like this....

 

Gnat Juice

1 cup water

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon dish washing liquid

 

stir together and pour into little bowls for display.

the gnats will be laying at the bottom of the juice before you know it.

 

 

here's the original post

 

 

 

i feel better now.

xo, laurie

Confession Time

Well I did it. I managed to make something I can't stop eating... once again!

This winter I was lucky enough to get on the Florida grapefruit/orange bandwagon with my friend Jenn and order me up a box and a half of fruit. I got a whole box of grapefruit and a half a box of the sweetest oranges I think I've ever tasted! Great crop this year! A fellow blogging friend of mine made candied lemon peels last year from a batch of lemons she had ordered, you have to order these things when you're not in the state that they come from, and they looked so tasty. So last night I was squeezing some fresh orange juice, which is out of this world good, and at the same time wishing I had ordered and entire box of oranges and a half box of grapefruit, and I thought hey... save the peels for orange candy. BRILL!! After eating several of them after they were made last night I have continued to munch on them all throughout the day today! Hence.. blog-worthy!


Fruit Candy

3 oranges
Water
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/2 tablespoon corn syrup
Extra sugar

Cut oranges in quarters, remove pulp for another use. Cut slices into half inch wide strips. Place strips of orange peel into a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil of medium heat, boil gently for 2 minutes. Drain peels.

Combine sugar, water and corn syrup in pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add rinds and boil covered for 15 minutes. Remove cover and boil rinds for 20 minutes more. Remove to cookie racks using tongs to separate pieces. Roll pieces in granulated sugar and few pieces at a time and place back on racks or wax paper. Allow to air dry 24 hours. Store in air tight containers.

The recipe I used tells you to store them in the refrigerator. Others don't say this. I don't figure mine will last long enough to go bad.

Fruit Fun Popsicles

Good morning all! It's finally stifling hot here in Tennessee. After a wonderfully mild summer (in my opinion) it's getting steamy out there. When you walk outside at 6:30 a.m. and the air is thick with humidity you know it's August. Well I have something to help cool you down and delight your taste buds... and your little ones may like it too!

Cantaloupe Popsicles

1/2 of a cantaloupe, sliced in half, de-seeded, sliced and crusts cut off
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar

Sweet and dreamy... I know! Anyway, after you prepare the cantaloupes you must puree it in a blender or food processor. Mine is one of those handy small ones and it does the trick nicely. Puree cantaloupe and set aside in a bowl. In the microwave, boil water (about 2 minutes) and add sugar stirring to dissolve. Let this cool to room temperature or put it in the refrigerator to cool faster. Mix in with cantaloupe and pour into popsicle molds or ice cube trays. Let freeze for an hour then insert popsicle sticks. Allow several hours to freeze or overnight.

These are fantastically good. I've gotten rave reviews so far!