Fizzy Ginger Iced Green Tea

Iced Tea is one of those classic summer drinks.  It is cool, refreshing, and good.  Today, I found a recipe for iced green tea that had a hint of ginger flavor with a little sweetness.  To add a little fizz to the tea, lemon sparkling water was poured on top of the tea.

I enjoyed this tea.  I tried it both with and without the sparkling water.  Both were equally good.
There was just the right amount of sweetness to the tea not to overshadow the refreshing zingy taste of the ginger.   Make yourself a glass and enjoy:)

Fizzy Ginger Iced Green Tea
From BHG Magazine

Ingredients:
12 cups water
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
3 inches fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
12 green tea bags
Lemon-flavored sparkling water

Directions:

In a large pot combine water, sugar, and ginger.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, covered, 5 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Add tea bags; cover.  Let stand 3 minutes.  Remove and discard tea bags.  Strain ginger; discard.  Transfer tea to a 2-gallon pitcher.  Cover; cool completely.  Chill.  To serve, fill a glass with ice cubes, them fill halfway with tea.  Top with sparkling water.

Makes 12 servings

Watermelon Salad

I am so excited.  I am playing for the first time the Picnic Game.  This is a virtual picnic that is hosted by my blogging friend Louise, author of the blog "Months of Edible Celebrations."  A link to her blog  is below.      

The way you play the game is by picking a letter of the alphabet and making a dish that begins with the letter you chose.  I picked the letter "W".  I am going to make a Watermelon Salad for the picnic.  A picnic isn't a picnic with out some watermelon during the summer.

I love this salad.  The taste is so summery and refreshing and the mint adds an extra coolness to the salad.

What I sometimes do when I am taking this salad to a real picnic - is assemble the salad there.  It gets soggy if it sits around for hours.

For more info on the Picnic Online please visit Months of Edible Celebrations.

Watermelon Salad

Ingredients:

 

6 cups of seedless watermelon cubes

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves cut into thin ribbons

Freshly ground pepper

Sea salt

Directions:

1. Drain any excess juice from the watermelon cubes.  Toss the watermelon gently with the rice vinegar and the feta cheese. 

2. Toss the watermelon with the fresh mint.  Transfer to a serving bowl.

3. Sprinkle the salad with ground pepper and salt.  Serve immediately.

Makes 4-6 servings

Here is a list of items other fantastic bloggers are bringing to the picnic.  Be sure to check out their Blogs:)

A-Angel Food Cake

http://moderndayozzieandharriet.blogspot.com/2014/06/angel-food-cake.html

B-Basil Leaves in Caramelized Prawns

http://simplybeautifulhealthyliving.blogspot.com/2014/06/basil-leaves-jiu-ceng-ta-in-caramelized.html

C-Chicken Piccata 

http://maefood.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-picnic-game-2014.html

D-Darned Easy Potato Salad

http://ofpupsnpearls.com/2014/06/27/picnic-game-2014/

E-Eccles Cakes filled with Leeks, Spinach and Blue Cheese

http://gggiraffe.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/e-for-eccles-cakes-vegan-savoury-with.html

F-Fourth of July Picnic S'more Tartlets

http://moveablefeastscookbook.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-picnic-game-fourth-of-july-picnic.html

G-Gluten-free & Eggless Chocolate Steamed Cake

http://kristygourmet.blogspot.com/2014/06/gluten-free-eggless-chocolate-steamed.html

H-Ham Cheesy Patties

http://mycookinggallery.blogspot.com/2014/06/ham-cheesy-patties-picnic-game.html

I- Italian Frittata with Vegetables

http://www.mylittleitaliankitchen.com/italian-frittata-with-vegetables-great-for-picnics/

J-Jelly Roll

http://kitchenlaw.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/jelly-roll-for-picnic-game.html

K-Kahlua Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Bread

http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/2014/06/k-is-for-kahlua-kahlua-zucchini.html

L-Lemon Lavender Cupcakes

http://artofnaturalliving.com/2014/06/26/party-picnic-lemon-lavender-cupcakes/

M-Meringue Roulade with Raspberries

http://canelakitchen.blogspot.com/2014/06/meringue-roulade-with-raspberries-rollo.html

N-Nutella Rice Pudding

http://rumblingtummy23.blogspot.sg/2014/06/nutella-rice-pudding.html

O-Old-Time Favorite Iced Red Bean Popsicles

http://simplybeautifulhealthyliving.blogspot.com/2014/06/old-time-favorite-iced-red-bean.html

P-Pickles

http://www.sidewalkshoes.com/2014/06/the-picnic-game-p-is-for-pickles.html

Q-Quinoa Blueberry Mango Salad

http://www.bakeawaywithme.com/2014/06/im-going-on-picnic-and-im-bringing.html

R-Raspberry & Fig  Cobbler

http://neesplace.blogspot.com/2014/06/raspberry-fig-cobbler-picnic-game.html

S-Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream (Helado de frutillas y cheescake)

http://canelakitchen.blogspot.com/2014/06/strawberry-cheescake-ice-cream-helado.html

T- Two-Ingredient Ice Cream Bread 

http://simplybeautifulhealthyliving.blogspot.com/2014/06/two-ingredient-ice-cream-bread-picnic.html 

U-Uninvited

V-Vegan Mango Salsa

http://foodandthriftfinds.blogspot.com/2014/06/vegan-mango-salsaand-picnic-game.html 

W-Watermelon Salad

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

This was my breakfast today.  I am  trying to keep cool in these hot days of summer here in New Mexico. What better way to keep cool than drinking a nice cool, delicious, and healthy smoothie.

I love smoothies, but I really appreciate them in the summer.  Throw everything in a blender and within a few minutes you have breakfast/lunch/snack/light dinner.  No cooking required.  

This smoothie was made with ice, peanut butter, a ripe banana, some vanilla Greek yogurt, some soy milk, honey, and some Whey protein.   The Whey protein is optional, but my older son had some so I borrowed a scoop.   Was this smoothie  ever good - hard to believe it was good for you.

I shared some with  the kids and they enjoyed it too.  

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 cups of ice
1/2 cup Greek Vanilla Yogurt
1/2 cup Vanilla Soy Milk
1 ripe banana broken into chunks
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
1 scoop Whey Protein (optional)

Directions:
1. Place the ingredients in a blender.  Blend until smooth.  You may need to scrape down the sides while blending.
2. Pour into glasses and serve.


Makes two 12-ounce servings