The Cure For What Ails

My sister is leaving on Wednesday and I'm feeling a little down about it.  Aside from her being excellent company, the woman is a great cook, and has been keeping me fed very well (and very vegan) during her stay.  But her talents do not stop at food.  She can mix a phenomenal drink.  

And as the weather has been a bit on the chilly side, and my parents and I have, at varying times over the past week and a half, been feeling a little under the weather, she has been mixing quite a few hot ones.  The two most successful?  Hot toddies and a special non-alcoholic concoction meant to chase away colds (although toddies do that quite well also).  For those upcoming chilly, drink worthy days, the recipes:

Robin's Hot Toddy

Serves 1

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon honey

juice of 1/2 of a lemon

2 cloves

pinch of cinnamon (or if you prefer, a stick of cinnamon to stir)

1 ounce (or to taste) of whiskey, nothing too peaty or smoky, blended whiskey will do, 10-12 year Glenfiddich or Glenlivet is fine (nothing too nice is the point, but something drinkable)

Mix ingredients in a mug or teacup of your choosing, and fill remainder of cup with boiling water.  Stir and enjoy.

Variation:  In place of whiskey use rum, and in place of honey use maple syrup.

Robin's Remedy

Serves 1

2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme

juice of 1/2 of a lemon

pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix ingredients in mug or teacup, and fill remainder with boiling water.  Stir and consume.