Infusion Time!

So, I don’t know about you, but there are a LOT of get-togethers in the the spring: Memorial Day,  Cinco De Mayo, dinner parties, end of year parties, …and on and on and on!  We are all trying to squeeeeeze in time with our friends before everyone is off on their summer vacations with their own families.

And though it might make OUR LIVES a bit crazy, trying to figure out what dish to bring to the gathering, figuring out who’s gonna babysit, planting flowers, trying to straighten up the house for company,…. I LOVE IT!  I mean, who doesn’t love a good reason to get together and bond with your friends?!  Our lives are so busy that taking the time to have people over for a BBQ is so good for the soul!

However,… my little liver is telling me to take a step back! 🙂

Therefore, today I am going share with you the beverage I have been sipping on since our Memorial Day BBQ.  It’s light, refreshing, made from scratch AND has a little KICK, but not the alcoholic kind! 🙂 (Although…I may have added tequila one night last week and…um…it was…DIVINE!!!!) 😉

Introducing: the Jalapeno Infused Arnold Palmer!

Now, I’ve always been a huge fan of the Arnold Palmer.  If you are not familiar, an Arnold Palmer is named after the famous golfer that’s known for drinking a glass of 1/2 iced tea and 1/2 lemonade.  I like to order iced tea with dinner especially in the summer but I like it on the sweeter side.  Adding a splash of lemonade is the perfect amount of sweet with a touch of sour to pair nicely with the tea.  You can play with ratios yourself but I prefer 2/3 tea to 1/3 lemonade.  See what works best for YOUR taste-buds. 🙂

Part 1: The Iced Tea

To start, first you must make the iced tea.  I used the water from our hot water tap. put that into a pitcher and added 2 tea bags.  If you don’t have a hot water tap, bring a pot of water to boil.  Once boiling, pour 4-6 cups into a pitcher and add the 2 tea bags.  Along with the tea bag, add 6 tablespoons of sugar and 1 small jalapeno, sliced and seeded.  Steep for 5 minutes, then strain.

Add 1 cup of COLD water and let cool for at least 30 minutes.

Part 2: The Lemonade

On to mixing up the homemade lemonade!

Add 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (approx. 3 lemons) and 1 cup of water into a mason jar.  Shake until all the sugar is dissolved.

Measure out 2 cups of cold water and add the lemon juice mixture to the water.

You are now ready to make your beverage!

Jalapeno Infused Arnold Palmer

Fill a glass with crushed ice.  Add 1/3 lemonade mixture and 2/3 tea mixture, garnish with fresh mint and serve!

Now THAT’S a refreshing beverage you can have all summer long!

Happy sipping, y’all!

xo, Melissa

(OK…maybe I am a little bit southern…monograms…sweet teas…)

Sources: Napkins (Homegoods), Tea (Safeway), Lemons and Jalapenos (Trade Joes), Measuring cups (similiar: Crate And Barrel), outdoor tray (Homegoods), Glassware (Kate Spade at Homegoods), outdoor loveseat (World Market), striped pillows (Homegoods)