Hey friendly folk! How are you this Monday?
One of my girlfriends who had gotten out of the habit of menu planning, recently got back into it. She came up to me this weekend so excited about all the money she is saving again on groceries. It really is so true. If you are wanting to save a few dollars this summer and haven’t experienced the difference having a menu plan can make, you’ve got to give it a try!! You will buy only what you need which means way less waste! Also you can cater your menu plan to what is on sale for the week. Love it!
Sweet Tea vs Iced Tea:
This week I’m all about finding a delicious iced tea recipe that is safe for me. Here in Canada if you go to a restaurant and order iced tea you will get a simulated tea with loads of sugar. It’s very popular but of course off limits to me due to all the sugar and whatever other not so good for you ingredients are in there. I’m looking for a refreshing recipe using real chilled tea which I think is more common for those of you living in the US, am I right? Is your Sweet Tea made using real tea? It’s all so very confusing sometimes between our countries isn’t it? 🙂 If you have a recipe for something that you think might work for me (no sugar or Stevia, but honey is okay) I would love it if you could share it in the comments. Thanks! I’ll keep you posted!
Oh and this was my daily drink of choice last summer, it’s so yummy! Oh how I miss it, sniff 🙁
Homemade Skinny Coffee Frappuccino
Apple Cider Vinegar:
So last week I made a Paleo Pulled Pork recipe that included a homemade BBQ sauce. My family ate it but I just couldn’t stomach it. I wanted to love it because I miss BBQ sauce but I just couldn’t handle the apple cider vinegar taste and smell. It just makes me gag. (As a side note, I’m also the same way with Balsamic Vinegar. Yuck!) So I think I’ll try making it again one of these days and just use regular vinegar and see if that works. Please tell me I’m not alone in this!!
My Weekly Menu Plan:
Monday: Tomato Mozzarella Basil Sandwiches / Tomato Basil Strawberry Spinach Salad for me
Tuesday: Paleo Smoky Grilled Pineapple Burgers with tossed salad
Wednesday: Mustard Lime Chicken served with Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Friday: Pizza Party Friday Night and for me Fluffy Coconut Flour Pancakes
Saturday: Smoked Sausage and Zucchini Skillet
Sunday: YOYO (you’re on your own)
WHAT ARE YOU EATING THIS WEEK? SHARE RECIPES AND MENUS BELOW!
Menu Plan Guidelines, banner selections and recipe helpers are here.
More family favorite recipes here.
Don’t forget to join our growing Menu Plan Monday Facebook Page!!
My favorite menu planning resource:
Shelly says
Where I live, sweet tea is the tea with sugar in it. Iced tea is iced tea, tea, water and ice.
You might want to try mint tea. To make it, place a tea bag in water and simmer until the strength of the tea is what you want. Remove the tea bag and while still hot add a couple of crushed fresh mint leaves. Then place in the refrigerator to cool. I take the mint leaves out once the tea is cooled. The mint give the impression of sweetness without the sugar. If it’s still not quite right you could mix in a little stevia too.
We will often skip the tea and make mint water. It is really good. Just add a few crushed mint leaves to water and chill overnight. Remove the mint leaves and enjoy.
I hope this helps you. I know I don’t like tea without any sweetener, I would rather have the mint water instead.
Heather @CeliacFamily says
Brew your tea and then add the mint water to it. Tastes so good, you probably won’t even miss the sweetener!
Vickie says
I wish I could help you -we make sweet tea with tea bags. I use stevia though. Hope you find something soon!
Barrie says
So on the vinegar topic- I love vinegar in salad dressings, but sometimes I agree it can be strong! Rice vinegar I have found is really so mild, and I really think it would be a good exchange in a bbq recipe as the acid.
On the tea topic- Lipton makes a cold-brew (takes 2 minutes) for a full container of tea, and then sweeten with lemon and honey to however you like it- or I have sweetened with real fruit juice too – apple or raspberry are really good with tea- I guess you could juice it yourself to make sure no added sugar too!
Keri says
I’m in Texas, so most people make cold tea with tons of sugar. I actually don’t like mine too sweet, so I usually brew tea with tea bags and chill it. I’ve added fruit juice or just fresh chopped fruit before for a little extra flavor.
Paula says
Yep, totally change the vinegar for white (and maybe cut the amount down). I can’t stand apple cider vinegar, no matter how much I want to like it 🙂
Jean says
Personally, I’m not a fan of iced tea (I like mine hot!) but I think around here it is the same as Shelly. If I’m going to drink iced tea, I like sun tea. It’s usually brewed with several tea bags in a large container, sitting out in the sun for a few hours and then served chilled over ice. The choice of adding sweetener is up to the individual.
Daphne Mooney says
I like to make ice tea using my vanilla tea bags. Just boil the water like you would for tea. I use a regular mug and pour the boiling water over the tea bag. Let it steep until it is the strength you like, I let it go 5-10 minutes. I then take a Tervis Tumbler (plastic insulated glass) and fill it with ice, pour the hot tea over it. You could add honey to it when hot if you want sweetener. You can use herbal teas as well as black teas. If you want to make more than a mug, you can use a mason jar and store it in the fridge. Enjoy!
Julie B says
Arkansas=Sweet Iced Tea….It used to be my very favorite, but several years ago I changed to decaf and no sugar because of a heart arrhythmia. I just really don’t like the taste of any kind of sugar substitute (and I have tried them all), so I put on my big girl undies and learned to like plain unsweetened decaf tea.
Recently, I’ve made a yummy tea that everyone really loves–year round. I use 1 family size (the big tea bag) decaf regular black tea (generic store version is just fine) and 1 Good Earth Sweet and Spicy caffeine free Herbal tea bag. (I bought on Amazon.) I stick the tea bags in my 12 cup coffee maker basket and brew like a pot of coffee. Pour tea into a 2 qt container and fill up the rest of the way w/ water. Chill and serve over ice. I like my tea on the strong side, but just add more water to your glass to make it less strong. This has a really good flavor…a tad sweet but not super twangy spicy.
While visiting my daughter in Hawaii a couple of years ago, I tried to find plain iced in a casual restaurant. No luck! It is fake tea w/ fruity flavors in the soda dispensers. Gaaag! Regular plain black tea was not available. Hawaiians are missing out on Southern Tea!
Danielle says
I LOVE your Menu Plan Monday lists! I found your site about a month ago when my doctor recommended going wheat-free and dairy-free with my daughter, and this will be my 4th week using your menus. I don’t have to search multiple sites looking for food that will work; it makes shopping and cooking so much easier and we haven’t found anything we didn’t like. Thanks SO much for your hard work!!
Laura Wittmann says
Oh I’m so glad I could help! It can be pretty daunting when you first start out with allergies but it eventually becomes second nature. All the best to you!!