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Jenkins Punch

My granny always made this punch. She practically raised me; we lived with her until my daddy bought us a house and moved us out when I was still a little boy. My grandmother was a hardworking Southern woman, always cooking and cleaning her house. This is her recipe for as refreshing and fragrant a summer drink as you can imagine—a really intensely flavored version of sweet tea, if you will. It’s a family favorite to this day. (It doesn’t call for Crown Royal, and I don’t even mind.) One thing, though: My granny’s last name wasn’t Jenkins, and she never did tell me who this recipe is originally named after; that’s a mystery for the ages, I guess.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 quart cold water
2 cups sugar
Grated zest of 3 lemons
Juice of 3 lemons
1 tablespoon almond extract
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups brewed tea, cooled

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large pot, combine 1 quart cold water with the sugar and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, and let boil for 5 minutes. Then remove from the heat and let cool completely.

    Step 2

    Add the lemon juice, the extracts, and the tea to the cooled liquid. Stir to mix well. Refrigerate.

    Step 3

    Serve cold, over plenty of ice.

Cover of the cookbook Smokin' With Myron Mixon featuring the chef and a double rack of saucy glazed ribs.
Reprinted with permission from Smokin' with Myron Mixon by Myron Dixon with Kelly Alexander, Ā© 2011 Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.
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