Hello there, my Friend! Happy Tuesday to you! It’s been raining cats and dogs here in the Mitten State the last few days, which is excellent weather if you are a duck! The woods behind my house have become a pond! And the last bits of snow continue to melt, and a fog seems to linger all through the day and evening! Interesting weather for February!

Well for some time I have wanted to share a delicious concoction just for days like this! And so today I am sharing a recipe for a deliciously sweet and tangy Friendship Tea!

But before we begin, I must thank my dear friend Maribeth Schmidt for her gorgeous pictures! She is sweeter than a cup of Friendship Tea, and is the essence of a beautiful friend! And her photography is the finest food photography I have ever seen! The amazing thing is that her life is chock full of all kinds of things she is equally talented at! She is simply incredible! If you would like to see more of her photography, or for an inquiry you can contact her at Maribeth Schmidt Photography.

Today’s recipe for Friendship Tea comes from a dear friend of mine, Susan Bernard. Susan and I used to work together at Ford Motor Company in Owner Relations. She was such a delight to work with! We became very good friends, and every day was a blessing to go to work knowing I was going to have a dear friend there to help make a great job even greater! This was back before my kids were born. Susan made this recipe and shared it with me oh goodness probably about 30 years ago! And its still positively delightful! I asked her if I could share it on the blog and she said, “Of Course!” Thank you so much, Susan!

And so, lets begin!

Ingredients:

(all ingredients below are in the dry powder form)

• 1 1/2 Cups of Tang 
• 1 Cup of Instant Tea with Lemon  (can use regular or decaf)
• 1/2  Cup Instant Tea (can use regular or decaf)
• 1 Cup of Sugar
• 1 Pkg (2/3 cup) Presweetened Lemonade
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Ginger
• 1/2 tsp Cloves

In a large bowl, pour all of your ingredients. Stir to mix.

Pour into a container with an airtight lid. I used two 16 oz mason jars. It makes 32 oz of dry mix.

So if you fill 2 of the 16 oz jars, you could keep one jar for yourself, and give one to a friend!

The measurement for enjoying the tea is 2 heaping teaspoons per cup. You can enjoy it hot or cold.

This tea is so delicious and sweet and its just what the doctor ordered for a chilly night!

Imagine showing up at your friend’s house with a deliciously sweet gift of tea, and a bouquet of flowers!

And maybe some cookies! And good conversation!

Who wouldn’t love that? I love the fragrance of this tea!

My husband loves the taste of cinnamon in it. That with the ginger, cloves and orange essence, well your taste buds will simply come alive!

I love how a cup of tea is a dedicated moment to relax. Tea and a good book!

I love this recipe, and I love the name “Friendship Tea” because it’s just a little reminder what a blessing friendship is! It celebrates friendship, and reminds me to show some love and appreciation to my friends and family. And even though its a tangible item, its the way in which its given that is the treasure. A gift that warms the heart is the best kind!

It’s like a little miracle when you realize how happy your time is spent with a friend. You don’t need fancy things, in fact, the simpler the better. It is good to just bond and be together. The world outside, the demands, the stress, the frenetic pace all can wait while you slip away for awhile. A cup of tea frees you to catch up, to share the joys, the sorrows, the hopes, the fears and the dreams, oh such sweet dreams for the future! Somehow each sip, and the conversation brings renewed hope; and some laughter is just the thing to build your confidence that you are not only going to be just fine, but things are actually looking pretty bright for the future!  And as you linger for those last few sweet moments with the aroma of spices and citrus in the air, plans are made for the next visit and cup of Friendship Tea, and, well it doesn’t get much sweeter than that!

I am raising my cup of Friendship Tea to you, my friend! I hope your week is simply wonderful!

I’ll be back Friday for another Fashion Friday! Cheers to our friendship!

Love Always,

Amy

A cup of tea shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.   ~Unknown