lady grey's garden tea

1 part Earl Grey
1 part blossoms of jasmine
1 part rose petals/hips
1 part lavender

Brew and enjoy...

flor de té

1 part Rose petals
1 part calendula
1 part jasmine
2 part lemon balm
1/4 part lavender
*optional...can add green or black tea

Steep in a pot or cup...enjoy

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. ~Thich Nat Hahn

porch swinging moonshiner

1.25 oz sweet tea vodka
.5 oz Southern Comfort
.25 oz lemon juice
Optional: mint sprigs

Shake ingredients over ice, strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with a half wedge of lemon.

Dirty Arnold Palmer

*3 parts sweet tea

*3 parts lemonade (I used Whole Foods, but anything fresh is fine)

*2 parts bourbon (the nicer the better)

*ice (if preferred)

Mix together, pour over ice. If you prefer the drink without ice, then fill a cup with ice and pour the bourbon over it. Let it sit while you combine the (chilled) tea and lemonade, and then pour the bourbon through a strainer into the glass.

Sweet tea:

*6 cups water

*6 tea bags (I prefer Earl Grey because the bergamot smells so good, but any black variety is fine)

*3 cups sugar (Yeah, you read that right. You can use less if you prefer, but remember you're mixing with tart lemonade)

*a tiny pinch of baking soda (1/4 teaspoon)

Boil the water, and take it off the heat until the bubbles disappear. Add the baking soda and tea bags and cover for 10-15 min. Remove the tea bags, pour in the sugar, and stir to disolve while the water is hot. Refrigerate.

Ellinikos Kafes

3/4 c Ground Greek/Turkish Coffee
2 2/3 c Water
Ground Cardamom
1/2 c Condensed Milk
Optional: A splash of Ouzo or Kahlua

Brew coffee in a drip-style coffee maker or percolator. Pour into 4 cups. To each serving, add a dash of ground cardamom and about 2 tablespoons of the condensed milk; stir to blend.

Pomegranate Metaxa Mojito

Mint Sprigs
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1 1/2 ounces Metaxa
1/2 ounce pomegranate juice
Splash of lemon juice
ice
1 ounce chilled club soda

White Wine Sangria

• 1 Bottle of white wine (Riesling, Albarino, Chablis, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)
• 2/3 cup white or brown sugar
• 3 oranges (sliced) or may substitute 1 cup of orange juice)
• 1 lemon (sliced)
• 1 lime (sliced)
• 1/2 liter of ginger ale or club soda (ginger ale for those with a sweeter tooth!)

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the orange,lemon and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled white wine and serve over lots of ice.

Addition ideas: sliced strawberries, peaches, handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, a shot or two of gin, brandy or rum, a cup of citrus-flavored soda pop.