Recipe #64: California Iced Tea

Everyone has their favorite television shows and while I have some pretty terrible taste in reality t.v. shows (Keeping Up With Kardashians, The Real Housewives, etc.) I do have other favorites on the Travel Channel and Food Network. I think my absolute favorite Food Network chef is definitely Ina Garten. Watching her show, The Barefoot Contessa, has a way of putting me at ease and I always end up finding at least one recipe I can imagine myself making during each episode.

Well today I saw that one of her featured recipes is her California Iced Tea. This was definitely one of her easiest recipes I have ever seen her make but my goodness did it look like it would be the most satisfying beverage on a hot day. Even though the temperature has dropped a little bit in the last week I immediately wanted to try this recipe: http://www.barefootcontessa.com/recipes.aspx?RecipeID=430&S=0. (Now this is no new occurrence...when I finish watching one of her episodes I am always in the mood to try her recipes.) I was already in the mood for lemon tonight and this drink looked like it was thirst quenching and erupting in lemony flavor.

Ingredients:

* 8 cups of water, divided
* 1 cup of Lemon Juice
* 1/2 cup of Sugar
* 4 Lipton Tea Bags
* 1 Lemon








Cooking Directions:

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and then remove from heat.

Add the tea bags for roughly 3-5 minutes.

In a 1 gallon pitcher add the lemon juice, sugar, and 4 cups of cold water.

Then remove the tea bags and pour the tea into the pitcher.

On a cutting board slice the lemon and then place them in the tea.

Put the pitcher in the refrigerator and let chill.

When serving make sure your glass is filled to the top with ice cubes.