It’s what they did in the olden days…probably...
The CCF household has been overrun with a plague (and by overrun, I mean my husband has a cold and I am NOT here for it). I have been running around with a can of Lysol like a crazy person. My next step is to wear a surgical mask. After that it’s move and try a long distance relationship…
Before I take drastic and dramatic measures (which is tricky because almost everything I do is dramatic), I’m going to try staying cold-free the old fashioned way.
Hard liquor.
According to the internet (and we all know how true the internet is), a Hot Toddy is the “go to” when sick for the following reasons:
Whiskey- helps you sleep and relaxes your muscles.
Lemon- cuts through any congestion and adds vitamin C.
Honey- sooths the throat and is believed to relieve allergy symptoms.
Cinnamon- has anti-inflammatory properties and loads of antioxidants.
Hot water- Heat is soothing and eases coughs and congestion.
(This was actual research I did too! It’s not just me putting it on the internet in this post and then saying “according to the internet”. Science).
Worst case scenario, you have more than one and then sleep until you’re well again…
Let’s get mixing.
Ingredients:
-Whiskey. I like bourbon (about “two fingers” worth. Luckily for me I have fat fingers. This is the one time I’m grateful for this).
-1 slice of fresh lemon.
-Honey (I use about a teaspoon, but you can use more. I feel like more is more in this scenario).
-1 cinnamon stick (This fills two roles. It adds spice and flavor and it it’s also nice to look at. Sort of like what happens when I enter a room).
-Hot water (enough to fill the rest of your mug).
NOTE: You want to use something heat safe. You also want to use something attractive because as I have said before (in food, not actual life, I do have some semblance of a soul) looks matter. I use a Mason jar mug (It makes it look artisan).
Directions: (Brace yourself kids I hope you can handle ALL this work).
Pour two fingers (2 oz. if you’re not an "old timey" mustachioed bar keep) whiskey in your heat proof (artisan Mason jar) glass.
Add 1 cinnamon stick (I don’t pretend to think you already have these in the house but I DO assume you’re going to go out and buy them. Do I use them for any other purpose? Nope. But cocktails should be reason enough).
Mix in 1 tsp. honey (or more because honey is delicious).
Add once large slice of fresh lemon (candied lemon is yummy here but has no medicinal value and we’re fighting a germ war that we must NOT lose!).
Top off with hot water (I mean like tea hot, not like the hot water you use to wash your hands in the faucet. Unless you’re like the Joan Crawford character in Mommie Dearest. Her face washing water would probably be hot enough and if you don’t’ get this reference, we’re no longer friends).
Stir, Sip slowly and sleep like a baby.
It’s important to note that it’s now a week later and I (knocking all on the wood I can find because if I jinx myself I’m gonna be SO pissed) never caught that damn cold. Maybe it’s a coincidence, maybe it’s because alcohol can serve as a disinfectant and I spill everything I touch, or maybe (just maybe) my grandfather was right and this stuff works kids!
Cheers!
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