Mr. Coffee TM75RS-RB-1 3-Quart Tea and Iced Coffee Maker, Red

Why didn’t I buy this iced tea maker years ago? I love it and can’t imagine going back to the old fashioned way of making a big pot of tea on the stove in a stew pot. I bought this during a week when my whole family had been sick with the early flu of the season, and we were drinking liquids by the gallons to stay hydrated. After finishing off the two pitchers of iced tea from the fridge, I went without tea for a couple of days because I didn’t have the energy–with 102 fever–to make a big pot of tea the old fashioned way. I figured there had to be a quicker, easier way to do it, so I did some online research and then ordered this Mr. Coffee 3-Quart Iced Tea Maker. It’s the best thing since sliced bread!!!!However, the recipe they provide for sweet iced tea is a disaster! Don’t try it. After my first two disastrous sweet tea batches, I searched the Internet for customer recipes. This only takes about 15 minutes.SUPER SWEET SOUTHERN ICED TEAI grew up in North Carolina where super sweet Southern Iced Tea is served at every restaurant and in nearly every home. It’s too sweet for my taste, but I accidentally made some when trying my Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker recipe the first time.1.) Fill pitcher to 3 Qt water line. Take basket out. Pour water into reservoir. Replace basket.2.) Put 3 Luzianne Family Size tea bags (fluffed) in the basket. Close the basket.3.) Fill pitcher to 3 Qt. water line.4.) Add 1 1/2 cups sugar to pitcher.5.) Put lid on pitcher (open part facing machine). Slid pitcher to tea maker.6.) Plug in. Turn on.7.) 5 minutes after the Tea Maker’s brew light goes out, take lid off and stir until sugar dissolves.8.) Fill pitcher with handfuls of ice until it is full. Stir to melt ice.9.) Let pitcher sit on counter for another 5 minutes or so until the ice melts.10.) Then put pitcher in fridge for cold iced tea that is ready to drink right away.LIGHTLY SWEETENED ITALIAN-AMERICAN MINTED ICED TEA WITH LEMONMy Italian grandmother, who was born and raised in New York City, always grew a pot of mint during the summer for her favorite summer drink–Lightly Sweetened Italian-American Minted Iced Tea with Lemon. It’s the best iced tea in the world!!! My mother and I learned to make it, and followed in the tradition of making this tea all summer from a potted mint plant in the back yard. During college, I grew a massive mint plant during an Organic Gardening course. Twenty years later, I still have that pot of mint and use it for my iced tea. Now that my mother and I live in Florida, the mint plant grows year round which means we get to make this delicious iced tea year round!1.) Fill pitcher to 3 Qt water line. Take basket out. Pour water into reservoir. Replace basket.2.) Snip a generous handful of fresh mint, lightly crush it with your hands, and put it in the basket.3.) On top of the mint, add 3 Luzianne Family Size tea bags (fluffed) in the basket. Close the basket.4.) Fill pitcher to 3 Qt. water line.5.) Add 1 cup sugar to pitcher.6.) Add 1 Tbsp. lemon juice to the pitcher.7.) Put lid on pitcher (open part facing machine). Slid pitcher to tea maker.8.) Plug in. Turn on.9.) 5 minutes after the Tea Maker’s brew light goes out, take lid off and stir until sugar dissolves.10.) Fill pitcher with handfuls of ice until it is full. Stir to melt ice.11.) Let pitcher sit on counter for another 5 minutes or so until the ice melts.12.) Then put pitcher in fridge for cold iced tea that is ready to drink right away.