Pitcher Punch

"When I was growing up in the 1950s, I spent my summers on my uncle's farm in New York state. At the end of a long, hot, dusty day in the fields, there was nothing better than my Aunt Alice's Pitcher Punch to cool you down and slake your thirst."

Pitcher Punch

• 4 cups water, divided
• 3 tea bags
• 4 lemons
• 1 and 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Dash of salt

Boil 2 cups water and pour over tea bags in a glass container. Steep for 20 minutes. Squeeze juice from lemons, reserving juice and rinds. In a large pot, bring remaining 2 cups water to a boil. Add lemon rinds to boiling water. Add sugar. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and remove lemon rinds. Let cool. Squeeze and remove tea bags. Combine lemon-sugar syrup and tea. Strain reserved lemon juice and add to tea mixture along with vanilla, almond extract and salt. Mix well and refrigerate. To serve, pour 1/3 to 1/2 cup mixture over ice and top with about 1/2 cup of water. Yields 5 and 1/3 cups tea mixture.

Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos

Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.

 Start Uploading Now!

 

Discuss this Article