The Champagne of the South

It's National Iced Tea Month and nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than a glass of iced tea.  Known as the The Champagne of the South, The Table Wine of the South, and The Beverage of Hospitality, enjoying a glass of iced tea is one of the most relaxing things that you can do.  It slows you down from your hectic pace and gives you a chance to take a deep breath and relax.

Please remember that even in the South, iced tea is only served at informal meals and at Afternoon Tea, NOT at a formal meal.  Note:  There is no iced tea goblet in a formal dinner setting.

Properly served, iced tea is served in a tall glass with a doily, a saucer (bread plate), and an iced teaspoon.  Many savvy Southern brides include iced teaspoons and crystal iced tea goblets on their Bridal Registry.

If the spoon is used to stir your tea after adding sugar, the teaspoon is placed on an iced teaspoon rest, as shown below...

If there is no spoon rest provided, the spoon should remain in the glass at all times.  Keep the long iced teaspoon in your glass after you stir with the handle toward the far side by the index finger and with the remaining 3 fingers and thumb of the hand, hold the glass while you drink.  It is quite easy to drink your tea and hold the teaspoon in the glass, and if you practice it, you will be able to handle it with grace!  Remember that once used, a utensil is never placed back on the table.

Sugar and lemon are both offered with iced tea.  Add sugar first, otherwise the citric acid of the lemon prevents the sugar from dissolving.  You may place the lemon slice/wedge directly into the poured glass of tea, but it is not necessary to press the lemon.

What to do with a sweetener packet?  Use the sweetener packet and tuck the empty packet discreetly under the edge of your saucer/dinner plate.

In the South, your iced tea goblet may be adorned with a pretty doily bonnet...I've had my bonnets for many years and they are great to use outdoors!

Remember your Teas and Q's:
~Swallow your food before you sip your tea.
~Don't slurp your tea...sip!
~Don't place your iced teaspoon directly onto the table after you have used it, place it onto the iced teaspoon rest, or leave it in the glass.
~It's "iced tea" not ice tea.
~Look into the glass of tea while you are sippin', not over it.
~Stir the tea liquid gently with the iced teaspoon.

Sweet Tea On The Go

I'm always traveling back and forth to Georgia and love to make sweet tea stops.  So who has my favorite sweet tea?

I confess that yes, I do go to McDonald's.  Nobody has french fries like their french fries!  And their sweet tea is delish!

The price for their sweet tea is $1.00, plus tax, refills allowed.

It's no secret that I love Cracker Barrel and nothing goes better with their Southern style vegetables than sweet tea.

 At $2.19, plus tax, this sweet tea is the real deal.  Refills are poured and I love that they always ask if you want a cup of iced tea to-go!

Oh Lord, have y'all ever tried the sweet tea at McAlister's?  It's phenomenal.  Since McAlister's started their deli in the Southern town of Oxford, Mississippi, I would expect their sweet tea to be good.  They won't share their secret recipe, but they do say that it's black tea, steeped with filtered water in every restaurant several times throughout the day.  Their tea is sweetened with pure cane sugar.  LOVE LOVE LOVE their sweet tea.

 McAlister's sweet tea is $1.89, plus tax and includes refills.

I grew up eating at the S and S Cafeteria.  It's one of Mama's favorite places for lunch and mine too.  

I love everything they serve, but my favorites are their deviled eggs, squash casserole, fried okra, macaroni and cheese, custard pie, and sweet tea.  Their fabulous sweet tea is $1.49, plus tax and of course, they pour refills. 

I'm totally in love with Chick-fil-A.  To begin with, I'm always impressed with the customer service I receive at this fast-food restaurant.  The servers wear clean uniforms and are so friendly and helpful. 

 I have to say that at $1.59 plus tax {includes refills}, I think that Chick-fil-A sweet tea is the best tea on the planet!  Their tea is steeped each day with a premium blend of tea leaves and sweetened with real cane sugar.  The chicken minis are by far my favorite item on the menu...second to their sweet tea!

If all else fails...take your own sweet tea to-go in a mason jar with a cute mason jar sweet iced tea koozie from Incredibly Charming Paper and Gifts.

National Iced Tea Month

The lazy days of summer are almost upon us and since it's National Iced Tea Month, I'm featuring my favorite teas during June.

This afternoon I'm serving Peach Iced Tea from Harney Teas.  Harney and Sons explains the difference between loose tea, tea sachets, and tea bags here.

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.

Slow down and join me in sippin' some great iced tea! 

Sweet Tea and Red Velvet Cookies

National Iced Tea Month is coming to a close...but we'll still be drinking iced sweet tea here at "The Roost."  Last night I served a little treat...red velvet cookies with the iced tea.

When I was up in Georgia recently, I had an awful experience.  I was sippin' my merlot and just happened to look into the goblet and saw about 4-5 gnats floating in my wine.  Lord have mercy, I had a hissy fit!  Seriously y'all, it was disgusting!  Well, I should have carried my "beverage bonnets" on the road trip.  I've had these little cuties for several years and they are great to keep out unwanted critters who want to swim in your beverage!  Perfect for the Southern belle sippin' iced tea {or merlot} on the front porch!

Sweet Southern Red Velvet Cake Cookies...these are a special Southern treat.  They are dusted in cream cheese flavored sugar...Savannah bred and Scarlet-centered!  Byrd Cookie Company has the best cookies...delivered right to your front door!  Located in Savannah, Georgia, the company is known for its tiny crunch cookies and Southern specialties like bite-size Peach Cookies, Scotch Oatmeal Cookies, Key Lime Coolers, Raspberry Tarts, Cheddar Pecan Biscuits, Apple Pie Cookies, Chocolate Mint Cookies, Benne Wafers, and much more.

Y'all know I have to add a bit of humor!  It's just that down South...all we hear is how y'all do it up North!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!

Sweet Tea and Boiled Peanuts

Tonight I'm relaxing on the porch with husband and mama...sipping some "Southern iced tea" and nibblin' on some boiled peanuts.

If you are from the Deep South, you've no doubt driven by "Boiled Peanut Stands" on the side of the road.  Everybody down South loves 'em--Lord have mercy, I stopped and bought some while driving from Augusta to Warner Robins recently.

If you can't find a roadside stand, you can buy them canned.  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 thirty seconds.

You can also prepare your own in the crockpot...

Recipe for Miss Janice's Boiled Peanuts:
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.

I have even given out cans of Boiled Peanuts as my "Friendship Gifts" in the past...

Tied the cans up with plaid bows...this is very Southern y'all!

There's Southern and Then There's UnSouthern Tea

Iced tea is a classic symbol of hospitality in the South.  On a hot summer day, nothing quenches your thirst quite like a tall glass of iced tea.  Of course, us Southerners are partial to sweet Southern Tea...but, we simply must be hospitable to those who don't like sweet tea for health/dietary reasons and prefer UnSouthern {unsweet} Tea!

Cheese straws are a perfect snack to serve to guests who drop by and are staple in my Entertaining Pantry.

Southern Tea...served in a Waterford goblet...already sweetened while the brew was hot.

UnSouthern Tea...the sweetener {sugar or sweet and low} may be added after the beverage is chilled or not at all.

My sterling Sugar Scuttle...the little scoop on top is used to scoop and add the sugar.

Of course, sterling iced teaspoons are needed to stir the beverage if sugar is added after the tea is chilled.  Remember to practice proper "Iced Tea Etiquette" and "The Art of Using an Iced Teaspoon."  You can read my previous post here.

Cheese Straws...The indispensable Southern staple!

You can't go wrong with cheese straws from the Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory!

A little note about my floral centerpiece...Several years ago, my late BF Teresa Jane wanted to find a floral piece for her table.  We searched the net forever until we found this urn, which matched her chandelier perfectly.  Graciously, her husband J.D. gave this to me when I visited her home a few weeks ago.  I will forever think of her when I look at the arrangement and am so grateful to him, as he allowed me have several of her possessions...all that really meant something to me.

Thank you for visiting with me to day...have a relaxing weekend y'all!

MIND YOUR TEA'S AND Q'S!

National Iced Tea Month is the perfect time to polish your "iced tea etiquette skills!" This is a post I wrote a couple of years ago...

To sit and have a glass of tea is one of the most relaxing things that you can do. It slows you down from your hectic pace and gives you a chance to take a deep breath and relax. However, it doesn't matter whether you are drinking iced tea from a styrofoam cup on the front porch...

Or taking sips from a beautiful Waterford iced tea goblet at an Afternoon Tea...

There is proper etiquette to be followed!
Even in the South, iced tea is only served at informal meals and at Afternoon Tea, not at a formal meal. This is a proper formal placesetting...notice that the iced tea goblet is not displayed.

Properly served, iced tea is served in a tall glass with a doily and a saucer (bread plate) and an iced teaspoon. (Many savvy Southern brides include silver iced teaspoons and crystal iced tea goblets on their Bridal Registry.) The iced teaspoon would be placed on the outer right of the place setting at an angle, or laid straight on an iced teaspoon rest.

If the spoon is used to stir your tea after adding sugar, the teaspoon is either placed on an iced teaspoon rest provided or placed on the saucer. If there is no saucer or spoon rest provided, the spoon should remain in the glass at all times. Keep the long iced teaspoon in your glass, after you stir, with the handle held toward the far side by the index finger and with the remaining three fingers and thumb of the hand, hold the glass while you drink. It is quite easy to drink your tea and hold the teaspoon in the glass, and if you practice it, you will be able to handle it with grace! Remember that once used, a utensil is never placed back on the table.
Sugar and lemon are both offered with iced tea. Add sugar first, otherwise the citric acid of the lemon prevents the sugar from dissolving. You may place the lemon slice/wedge directly into the poured glass of tea, but it is not necessary to press the lemon.

What to do with the empty sweetener packet? Use the sweetener packets provided and tuck the empty packet discreetly under the edge of the saucer or the dinner plate.

In the South, your iced tea goblet may be adorned with a pretty doily bonnet...


So, whether you're drinking tea from a styrofoam cup or from a fancy Waterford iced tea goblet, remember these Teas and Q's:

~Swallow your food before you sip your tea.
~Don't slurp your tea...sip!
~Don't place your iced teaspoon directly onto the table after you have used it, place it behind the iced tea glass onto the saucer, onto the iced teaspoon rest, or leave it in the glass.
~It's "iced tea" not ice tea.
~Look into the glass of tea while you are sippin', not over it!
~Stir the tea liquid gently with the iced teaspoon.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Y'all have a tea-rific day!

National Iced Tea Month...Celebrating on the Road!

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.  Today, I'm driving Mama back down to Florida to stay the summer with me and we'll be sippin' some Peach Tea all the way!
If you are bored with traditional sweet tea, adding a peach flavor is a nice way to add some Southern spice to your tea.  The natural sweeteners of peaches is also a healthy substitute for sugar!  Peach tea is simple to make...steep the teabags, pour the beverage into a pitcher, add water, and stir.

Pour the tea into a glass over ice and add the peach slices...easy Peach Tea!

Yes, Mama will hopefully be spending the summer with me.  I'm not sure how much interesting stuff I'll be able to write about...we will just have to see how this plays out.  I truly am honored and feel blessed that I can spend more time with Mama at this time.