Can I be gut-level honest, authentic, and vulnerable with you for a minute? I feel the need to come clean about something and hopefully I'll still be accepted in this blogging community. . . .
Mocha isn't my only favorite fall/winter drink.
Spiced tea is. And I'm not talking that powdery stuff you make with Tang that some of you call spiced tea.
Whew! Are we still friends?!
No, I'm not changing the name of my blog or anything. But I do want to share with you the hot drink I grew up on. Nothing spoke comfort like coming home from school on a frigid, rainy day in Houston (Okay, it was probably 40 degrees, Kelly, but I'm a Texas gal, okay?! That's downright nippy to
me!) and finding this freshly made by my mom and simmering on the back of the stove with its delightful scent wafting through the house!
The recipe came from one of my grandmothers and it absolutely spoiled me for any other type of spiced tea or wassail. And it's really not hard to make. So even though it's still 90 degrees most afternoons here in Central Texas, I share this with you in eager anticipation of a cold front!SPICED TEA
1 tsp. whole cloves
1 1/2 inch stick cinnamon
3 quarts water
2 large tea bags
Juice of 3 oranges
Juice of 1 1/2 lemons
1 c. sugar
Place spices in a spice ball, add to water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and steep. Heat juices and sugar and add to tea. Mix well and serve hot. Makes 3 quarts.
Want more recipes for fall? Go visit Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee! And be sure to leave one of your favorites there as well!
Still friends. :)
ReplyDeleteComfort foods is one of my favorite things about fall!
Now, I'm trying to imagine 90 degree days still....hmmm, just can't do it. We're lucky to hit 70 right now.
Linda, that was a very bold confession. I'm with you though, I'd much rather have spiced tea than mocha. I actually don't like mocha. So, with that being said, I still read your blog even before I knew your true inner feelings. Pour yourself a nice hot cup of tea, because honesty is exhausting :)
ReplyDeleteWow, does this sound good and tasty. I have to say that I grew up drinking the Friendship/Russian tea stuff with Tang, and it will always be my friend.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...spiced tea snob, are we? LOL! It sounds like a wonderful recipe, and for the record...I don't like the powdered Tang stuff either!
ReplyDeleteXandra
That sounds yummy! No big fan of the tang version either, but I do like to heat some apple cider or juice in my crock pot, with some cinnamon sticks, allspice and whole cloves tied in a cheesecloth with orange slices floating on top--I call it wassail, but I'm not sure it really is (doesn't "real" wassail have some stronger ingredients?).
ReplyDeleteHappy fall (and it's 85 here today!)...
In light of your confession, I may now start thinking of you as the newest Spice Girl, and I would have to dub you "Mocha Spice." Razzle-Dazzle. Well, if I ever get a tea ball thingy, I will try this just because you said, but I'm a little leary of the cloves. Still, I do trust my Mocha Spice Girl.
ReplyDeleteI can only hope that one day we will get to share tea or coffee or whatever! I'm still praying for you, friend.
ReplyDeleteKelli
This recipe sounds absolutely wonderful! And even though we are still quite warm here too, I think I will have to try it!
ReplyDeletebtw, I received the CD today....LOVE it!!! thank you so much!
Yum, yum, yum. Nothing like a spicy hot drink on cool fall evenings.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds wonderful, Linda. Although I must say, I'm surprised you even drink hot drinks down there. It takes the fun out of hot chocolate when the outside air temp is in the 70s. (That's what I remind myself each January anyway.)
ReplyDeleteHey Spice Girl!
ReplyDeleteI hope a cool front comes through soon...I want to try this recipe!
Hugs!
This sounds yummy. Thanks for the recipe, I love tea and this one is so simple, it also gives me an excuse to go into the tea store in the mall because I don't have a spice ball.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds yummy and so inviting on a cold Michigan day!
ReplyDeleteI love spiced tea and this recipe looks great:)
ReplyDelete