Summer Thirst-quenchers -- Fridge-Brewed Iced Tea and Homemade Mexican Soda

Fridge-Brewed Iced Tea

You don’t have to put the kettle on to brew some iced tea.  This fridge-brewed version has the refreshing flavors of orange, plums and lemon to quench summer thirst.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Chilling time: 8 hours

Yield: 2 quarts

Ingredients:

• 1 orange
• 2 to 3 plums
• 8 tea bags
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 lemon
 

Directions:

1. Fill a large pitcher with 2 quarts of cold water.
2. Wash and quarter the orange then squeeze the juice into the pitcher of water.  Add in the orange peels as well.
3. Pit and cut the plums into wedges and add into the pitcher.
4. Cut the strings off the tea bags and drop the bags into the pitcher.  Let the tea seep in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight, stirring occasionally.
5. When ready to serve, remove the orange peels and tea bags from the pitcher.  Stir in sugar until it dissolves.  Cut the lemon in half.  Squeeze the juice from half of the lemon into the tea.  Slice the other half of the lemon into rounds and drop into the tea.  Serve over ice.
 

Homemade Mexican Soda

This homemade soda will beat any bottled one.  Lime slices, juice, rind and all make this a light and zesty summer drink.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4 glasses

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup water
• ¼ cup lime juice
• rind from 1 lime
• 6 to 8 drops green food coloring
• 4 cups ice
• 1 liter club soda or seltzer
• 4 lime slices for garnish
 

Directions:

1. In a small pot, dissolve the sugar in water over medium heat.  Add in the lime rind, increase the heat and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat to a simmer and continue cooking until slightly reduced.
2. Remove from heat and discard the lime rinds.  Stir in the food coloring and let cool.
3. To serve, fill 4 glasses with ice and distribute to each glass the lime syrup and lime juice.  Top each glass with seltzer and stir.  Finally, garnish with slices of lime.