For What Ails You

Someone posted this on Facebook, and it was called Sore Throat Tonic.  I wrote the recipe down so I could try it when I had a sore throat.  But it sounded so good - yep, I'm probably weird - that I just had to try it, sore throat or not.

I think it's really good.  However, I don't know how it would actually help with a sore throat.  It's a bit spicy and a little harsh, so I almost feel like it would make a sore throat worse.  What it is good for is to clear everything out.  If you've got a stuffy nose or clogged sinuses, this stuff is just what you need.  I think it's also great to drink when you feel like you might be getting a cold - to scare that baby away for good.  OK, I don't guarantee this will keep a cold away, but I did drink it quite a bit last week when I felt a cold was coming on, along with tea and hot honey lemon water and Emergen-C every day, and the cold never did develop into a full-blown cold.  So, it's definitely worth a try.

Besides, it tastes good!  Or at least I think so.

Keep the Cold Away Tonic

Ingredients:

• 1/8 tsp. cayenne
• 1/8 tsp. turmeric
• 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp. raw honey
• a few slices raw ginger
• squeeze of lemon (optional)
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions:

1. In mug, mix cayenne, turmeric, vinegar, honey, ginger and lemon.
2. Pour boiling water in; cover and steep for at least 5 minutes.
3. Enjoy

The original recipe did not call for lemon, but I think it really adds something to the flavor.  If you don't have lemons, don't worry about it. 

And, I just spent way too much time searching through all my photos on Flickr for a mug of tea or something to represent this, since I've never actually taken a picture, but no such luck.  You'll just have to use your imagination, or take your own pictures when you try it.  Or not.

Just enjoy.  And don't forget to chew on the ginger slices when you get to the bottom.  They have a nice bite to them.

Mimi's Ginger Beer

I saw this in the weekend Parade magazine awhile back, and I thought it sounded quite interesting - so I had to try it. It took me a while to remember to buy some more fresh ginger, but I finally got a chance to make some this week. I wasn't really sure what to expect, because I've never had ginger beer, but I figured it couldn't be bad with all these ingredients.

Mimi's Ginger Beer
from Parade magazine

Ingredients:

• ¼ lb fresh ginger, peeled and cut into small pieces
• 1 quart boiling water
• ½ cup honey
• 5 -8 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ cup freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice
• Grated zest of a lime or lemon
• Ice, citrus fruit juice and/or dark rum, for serving, optional

Directions:

1. Put ginger in a food processor, adding just enough cold water to puree it. Scrape pureed ginger into a large, heatproof glass or ceramic bowl or pitcher and add boiling water, honey, cloves, cinnamon stick, zest and juice. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and keep mixture in a warm place for about 4 hours, stir occasionally as mixture cools and skim foam off the surface occasionally if necessary.
2. Stir in 1 quart cold water and taste for sweetness, adding more honey or lemon or lime juice as needed. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain ginger beer and pour it into ceramic or glass bottles. Cap tightly and store in the refrigerator. 
3. Serve as soon as it is chilled, or wait 2-3 days for it to ferment and start to fizz slightly. Dilute with ice, more cold water, citrus juice—or, for an extra jolt, dark rum. Chill, covered, for up to 1 week.

Since I've never had ginger beer, I'm not sure if this tastes like that or not, but it is a very refreshing drink - all citrusy with that kick of ginger, and I've been enjoying it.  I usually just put it over ice and add a little water to dilute it slightly.  I haven't noticed any fermenting or fizzing, even though it's been several days since I've made it.

I've  been reading through some other articles and recipes (on Epicurious and Food.com to name a couple), and several of them call for yeast to encourage the fermentation, so I might try one of these next time. Or leave it out for a few days to start it.  I am enjoying it enough that I definitely want to try this again.  I'd love to hear any tips you have if you've ever made it.