Cold Prevention 101: THE HOT TODDY

When I was a little girl being sick meant Mom would bring me ginger ale and hot lemon and honey to sooth my throat. It meant staying home from school and watching Perry Mason and the Price is Right on daytime television, Mom’s cool hand on my hot forehead. Comfort. Love.

Like christmas being sick as an adult is a santa-less shadow of the childhood memory. Feverish and flu cranky I want to crawl under the covers and climb back into childhood but alas no time machine here. Just booze.

I’ve shared a toddy or two with you in the past but they were all fancy and fit for company. Today’s drink is the one I have when my throat tickles and I need to sleep. There is actually a  bit of science behind it. According to Web MD clove is a natural expectorant that might calm nausea as well.  Lemon aids in digestion and honey calms coughs. And even the booze (in moderation, of course) can loosen things up.  I like to have one toddy with brandy or irish whiskey and one without.

The recipe below makes a barely sweet, slightly lemony, definitely boozy drink. The clove flavor will become more prominent the longer the drink sits. The glass pictured is actually too small, 12 ounces or larger would be best, room to stir or swirl or sniff (If you can).

Cold Prevention 101: THE HOT TODDY

ingredients

• 2 ounces of brown booze (brandy or whiskey would be my top two choices)
• one thick round of lemon studded with 6-8 whole cloves
• 1/2 tsp honey
• the juice from 1/4 of a small lemon (about 1-2 teaspoons)
• hot water to top and to taste (about 4 ounces, but sometimes a little more or a little less)

directions

1. place the clove studded lemon slice in a heat proof glass and top with honey, booze, and fresh lemon juice
2. if you want a hotter more flavorful toddy you can microwave the booze and honey mixture for 20-30 seconds
3. otherwise top the mixture with 4 ounces hot water and stir to combine
4. serve hot

You may have noticed my recent penchant for animation/video. while still in its nascent stages I hope to include moving pictures and instructional into my posts. Turns out it’s pretty easy (a bit harder to do well but I’m working on that) but something I would have been afraid to try if not for the IFBC (the International Food Bloggers Conference) and the stop motion workshop I attended run by Todd Coleman. Where I learned some tricks and more importantly was reminded that it’s the equipment I have but it’s me that makes the difference. I’ve tried to integrate what I learned at the conference into my day to day but I still have a ways to go (and one more post to earn my active blogger rate- a screaming deal!)

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THE HOT TODDY

Cook Time

2 mins

 

the simple version of the classic

Course: Cocktail, Drinks

Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of brown booze brandy or whiskey would be my top two choices
• one thick round of lemon studded with 6-8 whole cloves
• 1/2 tsp honey
• the juice from 1/4 of a small lemon about 1-2 teaspoons
• hot water to top and to taste about 4 ounces, but sometimes a little more or a little less

Instructions

1. place the clove studded lemon slice in a heat proof glass and top with honey, booze, and fresh lemon juice
2. if you want a hotter more flavorful toddy you can microwave the booze and honey mixture for 20-30 seconds
3. otherwise top the mixture with 4 ounces hot water and stir to combine
4. serve hot