Ugh. So, it has finally hit me. The plague that has been running rampant through my office and the general populace has managed to bring me down, unwillingly. And don't jump to conclusions, who knows if this is the Swine Flu. It doesn't really matter, as I've been flopped up on the couch for two days, sweating, napping and watching mind-rotting television regardless of it's name. My male nurse has been providing me with tissues, hydrating liquids and encouragement but I am still bummed that I'm laying up sick on Halloween weekend. We actually had cool costume ideas this year, too. I'm lying on the couch with the window open listening to trick or treaters tearing through the neighborhood, the greedy little twits.
Sorry, that was my fever speaking. Ahem. So, in between the hacking cough, body aches and general discomfort I began to wrack my brain for any home remedy I could think of. Salt water gargle, Emergen-C, OJ, steamy showers to loosen the goo, etc. However, none sounded as overall comforting and painkilling as a Hot Toddy.
Hot Toddys have been a reliable home cold remedy for years, and although this has more of a flu feeling about it, my illness quivered in fear as I began to gather the ingredients for my Toddy. Before I go any further, let me just explain that I KNOW that a Hot Toddy doesn't actually cure you...but it is a damn good anesthetic and overall soothing beverage to consume when you're under the weather. I mean, it has Bourbon in it for God's sake. So without further adieu I will share the recipe with you- I have the ingredients memorized, but adapted some measurements from the interwebs for you recipe-reliant folks out there.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
2-3 oz Bourbon (I used Bulleit)
1 tsp Lemon juice
1 tbsp Honey
4-6 oz Hot Water
Heat water to boiling. Pour Bourbon into a mug (preferably your favorite cracked old mug declaring you the Best ____ in the World). My mug is from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and is painted with one of my fave paintings, Almond Branches in Bloom.
Now pour in the hot water and add honey. I used a kitchen spoon measure out and stir the honey, so that it all dissolved. Stir in lemon juice and drop in a lemon slice.
Mmmm... drink up! Don't drink too many, as a hangover is the last thing you want when you're sick, but a warm, healthy feeling should overtake you. Boredom drove me to get up and document my Toddy making and post it for you, my lovely readers. I hope you all stay healthy this flu season, but if you don't...cheers!
