concentrates

I don't know what the deal is, but with the hot weather I've really been craving concentrated drink mixes. Maybe it is the lack of heat and brewing or maybe just the vision of a fridge filled with jars labeled and waiting for tasty drinks. Must break out the mason jars . . .

1. Iced tea mix (from Angry Chicken) : 4 tea bags, one mason jar, fill with water, soak overnight in fridge, strain, save in fridge for 2 weeks. Add sugar to personal glass with about 2 Tablespoons concentrate.

2. Lynne Rossetto Kasper's Coffee Concentrate (aka Splendid Table): Combine 1 lb. medium grind coffee with 10–11 cups of cold water, leave overnight, strain, stores 2 weeks in fridge. For hot coffee just add hot water to taste; for iced coffee, ice and water or milk. Niles is going to love this!

3. Frozen juice concentrate: Sounds complicated but worth it if you have a specific juice that you love, but can't find frozen . . . and with canning season around the corner this might be a fun, cool addition.

4. Homemade juice concentrate: choose fruit, chop, add to saucepan, barely cover with water, boil til soft, cool, blend. Press through sieve, add to saucepan, add sweetener, boil to dissolve sweetener, cool, store in freezer safe containers in the freezer for 3 months.

5. Lemonade Syrup : Combine 1 c. water, 2 c. sugar, thin sliced rinds from 2 lemons, 1/8 teaspoon salt in pot, bring to boil, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Cool and stir in lemon juice from 6 lemons, strain, store in fridge 2 weeks. Use 2 Tablespoons to glass of water or seltzer.