Prickly Pear Arnold Palmers

Sometimes I watch the Weather Channel. Not often. It’s one of those channels you don’t realize is on, don’t know how it got there, but nonetheless, it’s on. Sorta like when NPR turns off and switches to jazz. You’re still listening until something jolts and you switch the station.

So, it had to have been during one of those episodes when I saw these crazy storms starting in Central Texas and going all the up through Missouri. Michigan and Minnesota are still with freezing temperatures. It’s crazy. But in Arizona, things are as predictable as always. Today was our first official 90 degree day and in another two weeks we’ll be flirting with 100 and we all know too well what happens once we hit the century mark…oy.

Before we’re all confined to our air conditioned homes, this is the time of year where everybody is outside enjoying the weather. Neighbors grill outside, kids play in pool and the sunsets become more amazing. Right now it feels like a lazy Spring evening.

I grew up in a house where there was always iced tea in the refrigerator. Our brand is Lipton. I don’t brew tea all the time, but through the summer, I usually have some on hand. I used to be a two teaspoon of sugar and squeeze of Minute Maid Lemon, but now I’m a Splenda and take it or leave it lemon. My mom is totally hooked on mixing in a spoonful of Minute Maid Lemonade mix into her tea. Her own quick Arnold Palmer (or if you’re from Baltimore a Half and Half).

What I did here is just take a simple Arnold Palmer and mix in Prickly Pear syrup. The syrup has a subtle sweetness, so I didn’t have to add any sugar or sweetener to the mix. For every 10 oz. of tea, I added 1 T of syrup and a quarter of a lemon. It was so refreshing and light.

I hope that if you’re reading this from a state that’s still stuck in the craziness of Spring weather that you remember this when the weather finally turns. Cheers!