Trisha Yearwoods Sweet Tea Food

SWEET TEA QUICK PICKLES

Steps:

• Place a saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour in the sweet tea, white vinegar, honey, dried chives, celery seeds, salt and brine from the banana peppers (reserve the banana peppers, refrigerated, until ready to serve). Heat until just boiling and the honey has dissolved, about 4 minutes.
• Place the green beans in a heatproof dish or container. Slice the mini cucumbers into 8 spears each and add to the green beans. Pour the hot brine over the vegetables and set aside for at least 20 minutes.
• Allow the pickles to cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container. Serve with the banana peppers.

MAMIE'S TEACAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Grease two large (14-by-16-inch) cookie sheets with shortening.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Using an electric mixer set to medium speed, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla. Add the sour cream and mix well. On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until just blended. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board, and gently pat with floured hands to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with a 2-inch round, floured cookie cutter and place about 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets. Bake until the teacakes are lightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of sugar and remove the cookies to a rack to cool.

PINEAPPLE SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Drain the pineapple chunks and reserve the juice. Place the pineapple chunks in 2 silicone ice cube trays and fill the trays with cold water (it's ok if the pineapple floats up). Freeze overnight.
• Pour 2 cups boiling water over the tea bags in a heat-safe measuring cup and let the tea stand for 10 minutes. Into a large pitcher, add the reserved pineapple juice, sugar and 1 cup cold water. Stir to mix slightly. Remove the tea bags from the tea mixture. Pour the hot tea into the sugar mixture and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add 8 cups water to the pitcher and refrigerate until serving.
• When ready to serve, drop the pineapple ice cubes into the tea

SHAVED SWEET TEA ICE

Steps:

• For the tea syrup: Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepot. Remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and let the tea syrup cool completely.
• For the shaved ice: In a blender, combine the ice, water, lemon juice, limoncello if using, and all of the tea syrup. Puree until smooth.
• Pour the tea ice into tumblers, and garnish with a lemon wheel and a mint sprig.

SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Fill the teakettle or saucepan with enough water to completely cover the tea bags, about 2 cups. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Let the tea stand for 10 minutes. Put the sugar into a gallon pitcher and add 1 cup cold water. Stir to mix slightly. Pour the hot tea into the sugar mixture and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add 13 cups water to fill the pitcher.