Who’s hot?  Seems heat waves have been rolling across the country all summer. I’m BURNING UP!!

Actually, it’s a cool 73 degrees here. Sorry to mess with you East coasters. We don’t call ours the BEST Coast for nothing.

Watch: now we’ll have an earthquake or something.

Anyway, during our 2 hot days last week. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) I got sicka drinking tepid water out of my battered old Camelbak. And it was way before 5 so I had to think fast.

How about a refreshing iced tea?

People, this is so easy. So yummy. So refreshing & with just a touch of caffeine to get you over that late afternoon hump.

You can get all you need at Trader Joe’s (or any old grocery store.)

You need:

- green tea
- mango nectar (juice)
- fresh mint (OPTIONAL)
- ice cubes (not pictured – but I know you’ve seen them before)

I use a large saucepan to boil my tea water. When it’s JUST ABOUT boiling, turn off the heat. Dunk in the tea bags & steep for 3 minutes MAXIMUM.

This is something I just learned – green tea will tend toward bitter if you steep it too long.

Then I just let it cool on the countertop. I usually make it the night before. When it’s cool, I put the whole saucepan in the fridge overnight. In the morning I pour it into my glass Pyrex pitcher & keep it chilled.

Measurements are by eye. I add mango nectar to that pitcher until it’s almost full. I then pour myself a glass over ice and taste it. Then stir the rest with a spoon, adding more nectar if it needs it.

I don’t like it too sweet – just a hint of sweetness. I think I add 2-3 cups of juice to the tea.

You can also crush some mint leaves & drop them in if they don’t bug you when you’re drinking.

Refreshing & a little more special than water or a bottled drink.

Make lemon ice cubes!

Here’s what you need:

YOU NEED:
lemons (duh!)
a sharp knife
a mesh strainer
an ice cube tray or two
a freezer safe container to store your cubes

Lemons, lemons…lemons,,,,,lemons_____lemons!!!! I love juicy lemons!!!

1. Squeeze your lemons.
Talk about a hand cramp!

2. Strain out the seeds over an ice cube tray.

3. Freeze.

4. Store in a freezer safe container.

I’m not sure this is the best storage method – I’d love to hear other opinions on this???

5. Drop ‘em in any drink to which you’d would normally add a lemon slice (iced tea, diet coke, sparkling water etc). OR let them melt & use for cooking/baking when lemons aren’t in season. YUM!