Hot Spiced Tea - cooking recipe

Ingredients

36 fluid oz. orange diet soda
4 tea bags
1/4 c. lemon juice
artificial sweetener to equal 4 tsp. sugar
3 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
dash of ground nutmeg
lemon slices to garnish

Preparation

Bring soda to a boil in a saucepan, preferably heatproof glass or stainless steel.
Remove from heat.
Add tea bags.
Cover and let steep 5 minutes.
Remove tea bags and add lemon juice, sweetener, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
Return pan to low heat. Keep just below simmer for at least 30 minutes.
This allows the flavors to blend.
Hold longer if desired.
Serve hot with a lemon slice in each cup or glass.
Makes 5 servings.