I adore tea: iced, green, black, white, oolong, rooibos, pu’reh, herb, hot, sun, latte, fermented, I have an extensive collection of loose-leaf teas. A quick inventory and I have…more than 50 different types. Seems a bit excessive? Excessive is kind of my thing. Despite the impressive existing assortment, I have been experimenting with fresh ingredients: summer fruits and herbs that anyone can find. This week I’ll post a few favorite combinations. Refreshing Paleo summer slurpers, quenchers, and coolers, starting with this Cherry Basil Iced Tea.
I have a confession to make. I don’t love summer. I know, calm down, hear me out. I have an explanation for such a mind-blowing bomb drop. Now let’s be clear, I don’t hate summer. I think it has potential: longer days and searing temperatures are perfect. The assortment of fresh produce is amazing and there are many great events; at least where I live it’s a tourist draw. There is more to do, see, eat, drink, and people to meet. So why do I feel so indifferent about the season between sweet spring and glorious fall?
I have always been an ambitious person and started working quite young. My parents provided a reasonable budget for basic needs, and wants; things like back-to-school clothes and entertainment. My brother and I were always put first, but fancy Guess jeans and silk shirts weren’t in the budget for my parents. If I wanted to own those fancy (overpriced and trendy) threads I had to come up with the difference. I mean, a girl simply can’t live thru junior high in the 90’s without such items, right? Obviously not.
So my first summer job was at 12 years old. I was the best darn babysitter…ever. I had a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and play dough memorized (separate of course, not combined), and could play like no other. Our next-door-neighbor paid me a whopping $6 per hour (double what the regular babysitting rate was) to look after her 2 small boys. Monday thru Friday I would be at her house a little before 7 am to watch the boys until 3-ish. I got the kids up, fed them breakfast and lunch, cleaned up our mess and kept the 3 of us entertained all day. In addition to the regular Monday to Friday gig, I would babysit for other people around town on nights and weekends. I was going to have so many silk shirts, one in every color! Oh, and colored jeans. Best… wardrobe… ever. What can I say, I like nice things.
Every summer since that one I have had one, sometimes 2, and a couple of years 3 summer jobs. One year I cleaned vacated apartments, scrubbing walls and cleaning appliances; I pulled weeds for a landscape company; I looked after other people’s kids, sometimes daily, and saved up for a car. I had places to go. Silk shirts were out, it was denim overalls, Doc Martens, and plaid flannel shirts this time, but a car was on my radar. Once I could drive it expanded my working opportunities. More driving meant added expenses in gas, plus I was responsible for ensuring and maintaining my car. I NEEDED a new CD every week and a bigger/better/louder, deck/speaker/subwoofer for my awesome car (’85 Dodge Charger). Which then would rattle like a set of maracas.
Living in a tourist area, summertime booms, there are more hours to be had. When I started serving, working extra shifts, double shifts, weeks without a day off wasn’t unusual. I would say “Make hay while the sun shines.” My boss loved me as I would cover most shifts. Working every day as a waitress does great things to your cash flow. Now spent on shooters, Lulu Lemon apparel and yoga classes. In retrospect: yes, it was busy, but I could have said no to a few shifts in order to hit the beach. Working every day fed my compulsion to be the best-dressed workaholic ever.
Still today I run retail stores, but the type of retail is exponentially busier in the summer. The volume doubles or triples in June, July, and August. For my entire adult life I have never taken a summer off, never had more than a few days away from the grind. I don’t even know what that would look like.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for sympathy. Life is choices, and I choose to work like a maniac all summer. I choose to stay in the line of work I am in that dictates summer mayhem. I am just saying, summer and I are acquaintances, we aren’t close friends. It’s okay while it’s here, but I don’t get excited about it. Maybe when I start food blogging full-time (someday) summer and I will become better friends. At least I hope so, it seems pretty great. The people that know summer’s relaxed attitude love it. I want that love.
For some more Summery Iced Tea love, click here.
Cherry Basil Iced tea
Description
Homemade and refreshing iced tea with a twist.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cherries stemmed and pitted
- 1 cup basil leaves
- 1.5 l boiling water
- 1 lime or lemon cut into wedges
- Ice
Instructions
- Place fruit and herbs into a large jar or pitcher.
- Pour boiled hot water into the jar and let sit 1-2 hours.
- With a wooden spoon gently press the fruit and herbs, bruising them and pulling the flavor into the water.
- Refrigerate, pour over a glass full of ice and serve with lime or lemon wedge.
- Category: Beverage
Do you have a picture of the finished product?
I don’t seem to, it was drank in a rush after steeping, I’m sorry!
Eh-hem… Soooo…. what season are you better acquainted with?
I mean… the boggle that we get when people ask about any holiday event.
You’re NOT going to spend it with your kids?
Nah… we will touch base when things slow down for them.
We have always been an off time family.
Shiftwork and independent responsibility do that.
We pulled you out of school to travel.
Never let school get in the way of your education.
Some of our best visits were between 2 and 5 AM…
We would have tea as you de-stressed from work.
You started young, having Tea with Gramma instead of Barbie like most girls.
And still gift teasets to your god daughters.
That is not a basket of teas, it is every bit a box of potential relaxation as a stack of CD’s, a tank of gas and a map on the seat beside you.
If you don’t like something… change it.
Summertime roadtrip?
The huckleberries should be ready next week. LOL
Is that 1.5 liters of boiling water? Like 6.5 cups? I was confused because the photo shows a quart jar (or maybe I should put on my big girl panties and quit worrying about precise measurements).
I made the iced tea in a few quart jars, being without a proper jug. It all depends on how strong you want to make it, and how much tea you want to drink! Panties or no, we aren’t judging!