Russian Tea....Two Versions

Growing up I remember my mother making this version of Russian Tea.....all of her friends made it as well....usually around Christmas.

Combine all ingredients….

½ cup instant tea

2 cups Tang

1 ½ cups sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon clover

2 packages lemonade or lemon koolaide mix

Store in an airtight container. To make 1 mug use 1-2 Tablespoons and pour boiling water over it....stir.

This second recipe was recently given to me by a friend my sister and I grew up with. This is a brewed receipe....

4 quarts tea with 4 sticks cinnamon and whole cloves

Add 1/3 can frozen lemonade concentrate

1/3 can frozen organge juice concentrate

2 small cans pineapple juice

Simmer. Serve.....

Nanny Blanton's Fudge

If you want creamy fudge.....then this ISN'T it. If not cooked just right it's very cyrstalized and grainy, but my sister and I made this recipe over and over growing up mainly because it was our grandmother's recipe. It was special to my sister because she had fond memories of Nanny Blanton, and it was special to me because I had none.....she passed away when I was six months old.

3 cups sugar

1 cup milk

3-4 T. cocoa

1 cup chopped pecans

Mix and boil 15 minutes. Add 1 T. vanilla and ½ cup peanut butter. Beat till creamy – pour onto buttered dish or pan. Cut into pieces after it has cooled a bit.

Wordless: Cycles Gladiator

Cycles Gadiator is the wine with the interesting label. We’ve tried the Cabernet Sauvignon a couple of times, and we like it.

It’s amazing to me the state of Alabama as banned Cycles Gladiator stating that the label is pornographic……see the link here.

The label is actually taken from a poster created in 1895 by G. Massias that celebrates the Golden Age of Cycling that reached its pinnacle in the same year.

The website for the winery can be found here

Other bloggers are participating in Wordless Wednesday. You can find them here

Sausage Balls

1 pound hot sausage

3 cups Bisquick

1 (10 oz) package shredded, sharp cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients….Shape into balls and bake at 375 degrees.

Asparagus Pasta with Roasted Peppers

1-16 oz. penne pasta

1 bunch (1 lb) asparagus

2 T. olive oil

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 T. minced garlic

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 t. salt

½ t. pepper

3 T. chopped, fresh basil

¾ cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided

2 T. butter

1 cup pecan halves, toasted and divided

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Rinse and drain. Snap off ends of asparagus and cut into 2 inch pieces.

Saute asparagus in hot oil in large skillet over medium for 4 minutes

Stir in red bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally

Stir in chicken broth…..bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes or till asparagus is crisp tender.

Stir in salt and pepper.

Toss together pasta, asparagus mixture, basil, parmesan cheese, butter, and 1/3 cup of pecans.

Reserve some parmesan cheese and pecans for garnish.

Do not drain off chicken broth…..it will be absorbed.

Oven Fried Potatos

This is a very simple dish.....It takes no time to prepare and everyone likes it.

3 medium potatos, sliced

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon pepper

Place sliced potatos in a baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and drizzle over potatos. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.