Happy New Year

I can't believe that it is already 2009. I am not ready to return to the "normal" life I lead- vacation is really fun.

Here are the first recipes for you:


Southern Sweet Tea

12 bags black tea
6 c. boiling water, plus additional cold water
1 to 1 1/2 c. sugar
Ice
Lemon wedges or fresh mint sprigs, optional

Place tea bags in a large heat proof 1 gallon pitcher. Add the boiling water and steep for 5 min. Spoon out the tea bags and squeeze them into the tea, then discard the tea bags. Stir in 1 c. sugar. Add enough cold water to fill the pitcher. Taste and adjust with remaining sugar as desired. To serve, pour into ice-filled glasses, then garnish with lemon wedges or fresh mint. Makes 1 gallon

**recipe from: Southern Living Magazine


Chocolate Eclairs

1 box of vanilla pudding (mix according to directions)
1 8 oz. tub of cool whip
graham crackers
chocolate frosting

After mixing pudding and letting it sit for a few minutes, mix in cool whip. Lay down one layer of graham crackers in dish, layer pudding mix, graham crackers, etc. until all of pudding is used. Put one more layer of graham crackers on top. Melt chocolate frosting in microwave until melted enough to pour over top of dish. Refrigerate over night or at least several hours.

**My sister-in-law, Barbara Turner gave me this recipe and it is wonderful and easy!