Rooibos Ice Teas and Smoothies

OK, finally some pie on the Pie Times, even if this is really pushing my definition of pie to the limits...

As I don't drink caffeine, I'm a big fan of the Rooibos tea, this stuff comes from southern Africa and is a very delicious naturally caffeine free alternative to tea. I bought myself a new box this week and it comes with a handy little leaflet with some recipes for things like smoothies, ice teas that sort of thing. It's the sort of leaflet I'll lose, so I'm going to enter them here for ever more.

Rooibos Iced Tea (serves 4)

• 4 - 5 Rooibos Teabags
• 2 litres (3 1/2 pints) of water, boiling or warm (but not from the tap!)
• Honey, sugar or lemon to taste
• Crushed ice (optional)

Stick the bags and water into a jug, allow to cool and stick in the fridge.

(Doesn't say when to remove the bags - I'm guessing you don't want to keep them in there the whole time, or maybe you do. The quick cool method says to put the bags in 1/2 pint of boiled water, leave for 5 minutes and then add the rest of the water. - Ed).

Raspberry Rooibos Smoothie (serves 4)

• 1 Dragonfly Rooibos Breakfast or Mint tea bag
• 250g frozen raspberries
• 1 banana
• 500ml (1 pint) of cranberry juice
• Handful of fresh mint (optional)

Steep the teabag in 1/2 cup of warm water for 10 minutes. Blitz all the other ingredients - sieve if you, or the kids, don't like the pips - an then add the tea. Dust with chocolate sprinkles for extra whiz.

(Not sure about that last bit, chocolate and cranberry? - ed).

Rooibos Chai Smoothie (serves 4)

• 4 Dragonfly Cape Malay Rooibos Chai teabags (phew what a mouthful - branding huh - ed)
• 450ml (3/4 pint of warm water)
• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream or 125g of plain yoghurt
• 1 banana (optional but delicious)

Steep the teabags in the water and infuse for 20 minutes or overnight in fridge. Add other ingredients and blitz until frothy.

Rooibos Sundowner (serves 4)
5 Dragonfly Rooibos Evening Blend or Camomile teabags
1 litre of water
500ml of apple juice
Slice of lemon, apple or orange to garnish

Steep the teabags for approximately 20 minutes. Chill. Add the apple juice and garnish.

(Hmm, can't help thinking they forget the vodka or rum or something here - ed).

All Food is Pie!

I think before I go any further, that I should explain a simple truth of the universe.

All food is pie.

OK, perhaps not one of the hithertoo unknown laws of quantum gravity, but yes I like to refer to all food as pie. Casseroles, roasts, curries, pasta, risottos, soups, pies even - it's all pie at the end of the day. All except puddings, some food is puddings. But then some pies are puddings - like Apple Pie, but also some puddings are pie, like Steak and Kidney Pudding.