While growing up in the Carolina's, there was nothing more refreshing than lemon iced tea. But it wasn't until I moved to the District that I realized there are actually two kinds of iced tea -- sweetened and unsweetened. For the first few months, I was in shock when I would go to restaurants and order iced tea and literally choke on its bitterness. You see I didn't realize it was served with no sugar. Lord, it was terrible. 'And it's not like you ever get the tea as sweet as you need it, even after you pour at least six packs of sugar into your glass.

And let's not even go there with the hot dogs. Where is the cole slaw?? The buns should be toasted, and the actual dogs are supposed to be fried! So in keeping with good Southern traditions and in the spirit of warmer days ahead, I thought that I'd share some culinary ideas that will be perfect for summer outingsÖ

Lemon Iced Tea: (Pronounced `Lih-men Iaah-ced Tey')
For 2 quarts pitcher:

1 family sized tea bag

• Let steep in boiling water for 15 minutes in Pyrex measuring cup or teapot
• Cover to keep steam in. Warning-DO NOT steep in glass, it will burst!!!
• Once the tea is cooled pour into a pitcher -- squeeze out tea bags into pitcher.
• Add 1/2 cup lemon juice concentrate or cut 4 lemons in half and squeeze juice in pitcher.
• Add 2-1/2 cups of sugar. Then fill with water and stir vigorously. (Add more lemon and sugar if desired).

Hot Dog with Everything: (Pronounced `Hot Dawg')

Hot dogs
Buns
Chili
Cole slaw

Chili: Brown hamburger (or turkey) meat in a pan with onions. Pour off grease and add Manwich and chili powder. Stir.

Cole slaw: Grate cabbage with manual grater or with food processor. Add onions and stir in mayonnaise. For best results, use Miracle Whip Salad Dressing.

Boil hotdogs for 10-15 mins. Then brown hot dogs in a pan (oiled with Pam or minimal vegetable oil). Set buns in oven until toasty.

Place hot dogs in buns (add desired condiments: ketchup, mustard, etc..). Put chili on first, then add cole slaw.

Cousin Let's Lemonade: (Pronounced `Lihem-en-ayed')
For one quart pitcher:

3 lemons
1-1/2 cup sugar
Water

Roll lemons (between your hands) until very soft. Cut them up and squeeze the juice into the pitcher. Put the lemons in also. Add sugar and water. Stir long and vigorously. Add crushed ice and stir.

"Joab" aka Sweet Potato Cobbler: (Pronounced `Joe- aab')

2 large sweet potatoes
Flour
Water
Sugar
Butter
Shortening
Nutmeg
Lemon or vanilla flavoring

To prepare potatoes: wash, peel and slice.
To prepare dough: mix 1 and 1/2 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of shortening in a bowl, adding cold water to create dough.

Sprinkle flour on a sheet of wax paper and on a rolling pen. Roll dough out very thin. Place potatoes in a deep dish pie pan (measured at about 9 x 11). Cut dough into strips and lay strips on top of the potatoes. Put a generous amount of sugar on top. Slice generous amount of butter and add on top. Add lemon or vanilla flavoring (depending on preference), and sprinkle in nutmeg.. Then add another layer of potatoes. Pour 1 and 1/2 cup of water in potatoes. Take a teaspoon of flour and water mixed and pour in potatoes. This will contribute to the thick, tasty juices of the cobbler.

Roll dough out thin for crust and place on top of the cobbler. Take a fork and punch holes in the crust and sprinkle sugar on top.

Bake at 300 degrees for an hour and a half. Be sure to bake slow to simmer juices and to cook potatoes thoroughly.

So, summer mates! Grab your beach balls, your picnic baskets and add these wonderful recipes to your cookout menus. Your guests will love them and I have a sneaky suspicion that you'll end up using them year round!

For Your Southern Information:

Southerners never call the summer outside meal a barbeque. We refer to it as a cookout.