Arnold Palmer

I'm a northerner and until I married an Alabama boy I'd never made sweet tea.  Now 23 years later I no longer have the Alabama boy but I've found the perfect sweet tea recipe. http://cravingcomfort.blogspot.com/2012/07/sweet-tea.html

 Perfect Sweet Tea. (makes 1 gallon)
(Adapted from the Lone Star Steak House)

Ingredients -
5 - 8  Family size Tea Bags. (or 12 regular Tea Bags) 
                    ( I prefer  #1 Luzianne or  #2 Liptons Brand Teas.)
1 Quart  (4 Cups) - Boiling Water
3 Quarts (12 cups) - Cool Water
1 1/2 - 2 (one & a half) - Cups Sugar. 
1/4 teaspoon - Baking Soda (this IS the SECRET Ingredient!!)

Directions - 
1.  Sprinkle baking soda into a pitcher (I use a gallon-size Mason Jar but many people have voiced concerns about pouring boiling water into a glass container, so use whatever container you'd like)
      Add Tea bags to the pitcher/baking soda,  
      Pour Boiling water over tea bags, 
      Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
                    ~*~
2.  Remove and toss out Tea Bags,
     Add Sugar and Stir until completely dissolved. 
     Add Cool Water.
     Refrigerate until cold and ready to drink.
                     ~*~
3.  Serve over ice, 
     Take a nice long sip.
     Swoon.
     Repeat. 

Then I found the perfect Lemonade recipe  http://simplysogood.blogspot.com/2010/06/old-fashion-lemonade.html 

Old Fashioned Lemonade

1 ½ cups sugar

1 ½ cups water

Zest from one lemon

1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice

Ice cubes

Cold water or sparkling water

Lemons slices

Fresh mint leaves

Measure the sugar and water into a sauce pan. While stirring with a wooden spoon, bring the mixture to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Let cool slightly.

Add fresh squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest to the sugar syrup. Cool completely. Pour the lemonade syrup into a quart jar. Cover tightly with the lid. The syrup can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks.

When you’re read to serve the lemonade, put some ice cubes in the bottom of a glass. Our ¼ cup of the lemon syrup over the ice cubes. Add ¾ cup cold water or sparkling water and stir.

Float a thin slice of lemon and, if you like, a fresh mint leaf on top of each glass.

The recipe makes enough syrup for 14 glasses of lemonade.

Pink lemonade:  add 1/2 cup grenadine syrup to the jar of lemonade syrup and stir.

Strawberry lemonade:  add 2 tablespoons of puree of fresh strawberries into each glass.

Limeade: Replace lemon with lime juice and lime zest.

So I mixed the lemonade 1/4 to 3/4 to the sweet tea.  The boys are loving it and I don't have to pay $5.00 for a 12 pack of Arnold Palmers at the store.