Saturday, June 6, 2009

SWEET TEA AND BOILED PEANUTS

I've been doing yard work all day long and I'm ready for a glass of iced tea...on the Porch--at The Roost! The little tea towel is an inside joke with friends back in Mississippi!
The lazy days of summer are here! Sunny days at the beach or lake, taking in a movie at a nice cool theatre, relaxing on the porch under the cool breeze of a ceiling fan...with a good book...

June is National Iced Tea Month
In 1904 a gentleman by the name of Richard Blechynden was trying to sell his hot tea at the World's Fair in St. Louis and because there was a heat wave, no one wanted any, so he added some ice and iced tea became popular. Like most Southerners, I began drinking iced tea at a young age. Iced tea is considered the beverage of hospitality, the table wine of the South, and sometimes referred to as the champagne of the South.

Take the heat out of your summer, slow down, and join me in sipping some great iced tea! Today, I'm enjoying a longtime Southern favorite, Lipton Iced Tea.

The Southern Country Caviar
What goes well with iced tea in the summertime? I'm lovin' some boiled peanuts! Pronounced "bald peanuts" below the Mason-Dixon line, boiled peanuts are an acquired taste, but to Southerners, they are addictive. They are a true Southern delicacy and most Southerners would tell you to enjoy them with sweet tea, a coke, or an iced cold beer!
If you are from the Deep South, you've no doubt driven by "Boiled Peanut Stands" on the side of the road. Everybody loves 'em-I know y'all have bought them on occasion!If you can't find a roadside stand, you can buy them canned (available at Publix, Walmart, et cetera). They may be eaten straight out of the can or placed on a plate and covered with a paper towel, and heated in the microwave for 30 seconds. You may also make your own...here's a recipe.


Recipe for Boiled Peanuts in a Crockpot:
1 1/2 quarts raw uncooked green peanuts
1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 quarts water

Wash the peanuts well. Place the peanuts into the crockpot, add the salt and water; stir. Cook, covered on high for 5-7 hours. Add more water if necessary, to keep the peanuts covered.

Miss Janice's Summer Friendship Gift
All my summer houseguests will receive a can of boiled peanuts as my friendship gift throughout the summer. What an easy way to say "Welcome" to guests and give them a little bit of a Southern delicacy to take home! Here's my "Friendship Gifts" for the summer:
Very easy...very Southern!
Thank y'all for dropping by today. I'm off to relax with my sweet tea and boiled peanuts...the whole can, by myself--yes ma'am!

35 comments:

Unknown said...

I have my glass of tea right in front of me! Nothing is better.

Domestic Designer said...

I just had a large glass of iced tea. So Good! Have a wonderful weekend!

Lady Katherine said...

Loved the iced tea glasses! Now my Hubby would love to be your house guest, for the peanuts. lol Yes,he stops at all the side road peanut places. In the cupboard he always has him boiled peanuts! Now the Grandchildren, know when they come where the peanuts are! Have a lovely afternoon sipping on your iced tea

Ashley Turner said...

Miss Janice, your house and all your goodies are amazing! I would love to have an aunt like you so I could drink tea out of such cute glasses! So cool!!!

Southern Savvy said...

Love the magnolia glass Miss Janice. I'm thinking that I need a sign to display in my kitchen that says "We don't care how you do it up North." Very appropriate for a Southern girl in S. FL!

bj said...

Hi, Miss Janice..when I was a little girl, in Dallas, my daddy used to take me downtown on the streetcar. When we got there, we'd usually go to a movie, do a little window shopping and always buy a little sack of boiled peanuts from a street vendor with the cutest little vending wagon. I've not had boiled peanuts since.
Thanks so much for the recipe..I will sure try this one!!.O, and I've never seen the canned boiled peanuts here in West Texas...but we sure do have SWEET TEA !!
xo bj

Elizabeth said...

I could use a nice big glass of sweet tea and a bag of boiled peanuts about now!! I did have some sweet tea today, but I haven't had any boiled peanuts in quite some time. Maybe I'll treat myself to some this week. There's a produce stand around the corner that sells them.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh Miss Janice! I was at a "bald" peanut stand yesterday!! lol They are addictive! I have made my own...but never in a crock pot! I'll have to try that! As for iced tea...nothing is better! But I do have to have my Diet Coke, too. You know we Atlanta folk have to support our Coke products!! lol I hope you are having a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie

Bamawhitney said...

Miss Janice - everytime I read your posts I am not only homesick but wishing I was your neighbor!!!

Sandra said...

Oh, to be dropping by your house this summer!! Heaven!! xoxo

Belle (from Life of a...) said...

I'd LOVE some boiled peanuts right now. I believe I'll have to pull the big pot out tomorrow afternoon and fix some up.

Sit A Spell said...

I make a pitcher of Lipton tea every 2 days, decaf. We usually drink it with supper. It is a staple in my home. I have to say though, I have never seen boiled peanuts in the can! ...on the side of the road ...with a similar sign as the one you posted, but not in the can. Hmm.

Ok, I so missed your 100th post give away! How sweet of you.

I love the tea towel...being southern and living in the north. It is so very different up here. It looks like you have adapted well to the Florida life style...return this month because I'll have news to share.

Always take time to sit a spell with your iced tea and boiled peanuts this summer. Love the basket.

Anonymous said...

HI Miss Janice! I'll have a glass of that please! Growing up in Alabama I didn't know iced tea came any way but sweet! :) Now that is a very pretty glass your sweet stuff is in! I haven't had boiled peanuts since I was a little girl! My mouth is watering!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

I made boiled peanuts last year for my family. They all tasted them with caution....a soggy peanut?! But in the end I think I converted just about everyone. I'm like a drug pusher....but with g-rated southern foods that I ate in college (at UGA)!

Paula@SweetPea said...

I love iced tea but haven't acquired a taste for boiled peanuts. I had them once in Charleston and didn't really like them. I will certainly give them another chance when I'm down south!

I love your tea towel and boiled peanut display.

cancersucks said...

What lucky house guests! I love iced tea. If I don't make home made I buy the big gallons from Chick fil a!

Tammy B said...

The first thing that I do every morning after I shower is make a pitcher of iced tea for the day. I don't like sugar in tea (I know, horrors!), but I do sweeten it with Sweet N' Low and add a wedge of orange or lemon. During the Blizzard of '93, I made sure that I had plenty of tea made before the power went out.

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Well, you know I'm stopping by to read any post titled Sweet Tea and Boiled Peanuts! Love 'em, both. I'll even eat the canned ones but the fresh ones are soooo much better! :-)
P.S. Those glasses sure do look familiar. :-)

Beeutiful by Design said...

Once prepared how long the boiled peanuts keep (assuming you don't gobble them all up!)? Do you store in the fridge or just a room temp?

Stacey said...

I just love the idea of Summer Friendship Gifts. Your peanuts are adorable all wrapped up with a cute little bow. What a smart idea. :)

Caroline said...

Ahh, how I miss the south...where you can buy boiled peanuts in a can, roadside stand, etc. Living in Washington state I am force to make them up myself...which is nothing to turn your nose up at - I am accomplished where goobers are concerned.
And God bless McDonalds for finally offering Sweet Tea on the menu...I mean, us folks living outside the south just don't have a Hardees close by.
Lots of southern hugs,
Caroline

Just Add Walter said...

hehe... we don't care how you do it up north... love that!!

Jules from "The Roost" said...

Girl you have always got it going on! I would love for us to have a tall class of tea and a nice afternoon chat! ;)

cancersucks said...

Good morning sunshine! I have the choker for auction on my ebay site. Seller id auntie-goose. Let me know if you can't find and I'll post the link. Have a great day.

Miss Janice said...

Thanks to all you iced tea and boiled peanut lovers!
BeeutifulbyDesign: The boiled peanuts should be kept in the frig and will probably last 2-3 days.

Anonymous said...

Okay...I'm going to be painting that tea towel phrase on a sign for my own house right now!!!

Princess Freckles said...

It sounds like you had a great weekend! I love iced tea! That hand towel is just too cute!

I think the friendship gifts you give out are really special! Always so sweet and perfectly put together! You are certainly a role model!

LillyB said...

This is a great blog!!! I am a huge fan of "The Wine of the South!"
Sweet tea is my favorite beverage. I can hardly believe they don't have sweet tea in the north, but they put sugar in their grits?? ...almost uncivilized. ;)
Have a great day!
Love Lilly

melissa said...

My Guys LOVE boiled peanuts. They are always stopping at those road side sales when we are traveling.
Such a cute friendship gift! Maybe I should whip some up for my boys ... but honestly, all they need is a baggie for their peanuts. They never appreciate the finer things, such and the cute packaging! ;)

BLC :o said...

Oh I just love this post! Xoxo-BLC

Domestic Diva said...

Love it!!
xxx me

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Miss Janice -- I do love my sweet tea -- but I've never eaten boiled peanuts. I've seen them on our travels south -- I'm going to check out our Walmart to see if they carry the cans -- I hate to be ignorant -- but do you eat the shell too when they're boiled? (That should certainly add some fiber to the diet!)

BrushedByAnAngel said...

Oh, dear, I thought I posted here but I must have hit the wrong key. I love your blog - and being from the south, who could resist sweet tea and boiled peanuts! Nothing better.

Miss Janice said...

Mid Atlantic Martha: I would NOT eat the shells. I don't believe I've ever seen anyone else eat them either:)

momof3girls said...

I have to laugh I just got home from vacation -returning to the land of blogs and was catching up on all my wonderful blog friends and saw your blog. I just blogged and tried boiled peanuts for the very 1st time! I live in Oklahoma and consider myself southern - however Oklahoma is not deeo south and I had never heard of boiled peanuts until I read some books written by a wonderful christian southern author of the name Denise Hildreth who mentions them. So on my vacation (we traveled to Florida thru several southern states) My mission was to find boiled peanuts and try them.

I did not know that you could buy them canned - thanks for your blog I enjoy it so very much!!!