Summer Entertaining Tips from Ted Allen

Ted Allen, popular author and television personality often making appearances on Food Network, has teamed up with Pure Leaf Iced Tea to provide some easy summertime entertaining tips. Plus, a few light, refreshing tea-centric sips for your summertime soirees.
1. When you’re barbecuing, make it easier on yourself by prepping ahead with side dishes that don’t need to be heated: Bean salads, pasta salads, even a panzanella bread salad are easy to make ahead, and that frees you up to be the grill master.
2. The delicate, refreshing flavor of tea pairs beautifully with almost any food. Think of its abilities to clean your palate of rich, sweet flavors, and to compliment more delicate ones. Offer a range of teas—sweet, unsweetened, not-too-sweet, peach—to give your guests choices, then serve with interesting garnishes (cherries, kiwi, blood orange, Meyer lemon, and a selection of herbs).
3. Nobody wants to hear themselves chewing at a dinner party, so don’t let “dead air” happen at yours! For a fun ambience, the music must never stop. Develop a playlist of elegant background music—no surprises like heavy metal or John Philip Sousa. My go-to is Chet Baker.
Strawberry Peppercorns Peach Tea Drink (square)
Strawberry Black Peppercorn Peach Tea
2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
2 tsp. black peppercorns
6 strawberries
1 bottle Pure Leaf™ Not Too Sweet Peach Tea
Crush peppercorns with wooden spoon in 1-quart glass measuring cup. Add strawberries and mash well. Stir in Pure Leaf™ Not Too Sweet Peach Tea. Strain and serve in ice-filled glasses. Garnish, if desired, with additional sliced strawberries. Substitution: Instead of peppercorns, simply add 1/8 teaspoon finely ground black pepper. For a cocktail version, simply add 1 cup chilled sparkling wine after straining.
Peachy-Ginger Tea Thyme Drink (square)
Peachy Ginger Thyme Tea
2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
3 slices fresh ginger, about 1/8-inch thick
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bottle Pure Leaf™ Not Too Sweet Peach Tea
Crush ginger and thyme with wooden spoon in 1-quart glass measuring cup. Stir in Pure Leaf™ Not Too Sweet Peach Tea. Strain and serve in ice-filled glasses. Garnish, if desired, with additional ginger and thyme. For a pitcher, simply double the recipe. For a cocktail version, simply add 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey.
Asian Spicey Cucumber Honey Green Tea Drink (square)
Asian Spicy Cucumber Honey Green Tea
2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
10 slices cucumber (about 1/4-inch thick)
2 slices lime (about 1/4-inch thick)
Pinch ground red pepper
1 bottle Pure Leaf™ Not Too Sweet Honey Green Tea
Crush cucumber, lime and red pepper with wooden spoon in 1-quart glass measuring cup. Stir in Pure Leaf™ Not Too Sweet Honey Green Tea. Strain and serve in ice-filled glasses. Garnish, if desired, with additional cucumber and lime. For a cocktail version, simply add 1/4 cup vodka.
 
 

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