Raspberry Tea Battle

Honestly, I REALLY don't know how much thanks and love I could pour my awesome sister's - Nikki -way.   

One of my MOST favorite drinks on the planet -just behind Cheerwine, is Raspberry Tea. Only I am super picky on the taste of the raspberry tea.  Longhorn Steakhouse had the best (until I made the recipe below). My Mom & other sister, Julie even laugh at me when I order it because they call me a "Raspberry Tea Snob". Which could be true since I order 1/2 sweet, 1/2 unsweet tea, 3 pumps of raspberry syrup and a lemon wedge. I have even told wait staff that the amount of their tip weighs heavily if they make it right or not.

So to feed my addition, she emails me a recipe for Raspberry Tea she found in a cookbook by Taste of Home which you can also find here on their website.  She titled the email "You'll Love Me Forever". Well, I will. I really will.  This raspberry tea is the BEST I have ever tasted. It is nice and tart. It does have to be made in advance as the flavor gets better the longer it sits.  We even tried the idea somone else had about making it into ice cubes because we experienced the 'watered down taste' normal ice cubes were giving it. Which the picture shows in the Bugs Bunny glass.  Even my kids agree that this is better than what we get from Longhorn. The only downside to the recipe is that the gallon plus amount it makes runs through our house in no time flat.  The only ingredient I have to go out & purchase is frozen raspberries when I want to make it.

Last week, I get another email with a Raspberry Tea Recipe from one of her friends, likes to drink.  The recipe is pretty simple and makes a gallon.  
Steep 4 regular tea bags (=2 family sized) & 4 Celestial Raspberry Zinger tea bags. In a gallon pitcher add 1 cup sugar & juice of 1 lemon. Mix in cooled down tea, then fill up pitcher with water and chill.  This recipe makes a very refreshing tea. It's not too tart nor too sweet and is nice to sit and sip.

So, who won the Raspberry Tea Battle in our home?????

It was a tie. Depends on what you want.  I can whip up the refreshing version in an afternoon to serve at dinner, or I can prepare the super stuff the evening before I want to serve it, because it needs time to hang out.  I highly suggest for you to try both if you are raspberry lover like I am!

Pre-Thanksgiving Planning...

So, my parents have confirmed that they will be traveling to Kansas to visit over Thanksgiving. Since my husband is still deployed overseas, this visit is  a welcomed one. I'm super excited about Nana & Papa coming here and I'm also kind of glad I won't be spending this holiday or my birthday  alone or just with my boys. 
The announcement of their arrival has spawned a pre-Thanksgiving planning on my part. I've been tossing around the idea of deviating from our traditional menu and doing things a bit different in Kansas. I love turkey as much as the next person, but I found a slow roasted duck recipe that I've been wanting to try. Or how about fixing a Turducken? If that idea doesn't fly with my parents, I'm at least planning on these side dishes and dessert recipes.

For sides, I'm thinking:
Stuffing Balls (this takes you back to last year's post) This recipe incorporates cranberry sauce and it helps avoid the random plate of can shaped sauce on the table.
Classic Green Bean Casserole The Campbell's classic.
Sweet Potato Casserole This recipe my friend made last Thanksgiving, I believe it had pineapple tidbits, pecans and coconut in it. I'm waiting on a reply from her, but if not, I have a back up recipe from McCormick. ~ Roasted Sweet Potato Casserole with a Cinnamon Pecan Crunch

And for dessert -
Pumpkin Pie a la Paula Deen. A friend of ours made this last year, but instead of using the regular  pie crust he used a graham cracker crust. It was simply delicious. 


I hope this inspires you all to do some pre-planning of your own. Enjoy!