Hot Toddy Recipes?

[htuttle]

I got a bad cold/flu thing last night, so tonight I decided to attack it with a few Hot Toddy's.

So far, my favorite involves brandy, Chai tea, honey and lemon. All the spices in the Chai, carried aloft to my sinuses by the warm brandy vapors, are working almost as well as Robitussin.

Anyone got any interesting Hot Toddy recipes, especially ones purported to have medicinal properties?

[Lugnut]

1. My dad had a good recipe.

He'd make a cup of strong hot tea and add honey and lemon. The best part was the generous splash of Christian Brothers brandy to top it off.

[flamin lib]

2. My Dad's cold cure . . .

Hang your hat on the bedpost.

Drink 'til you see two hats.

Sleep 'til you wake up.

[Lucinda]

5. LOL

That would do it!

[flamin lib]

3. Serious this time . . .

Strip of lemon peel (zest) 1" long. Muddle in a cup with 1 tsp sugar. 3 oz bourbon or whiskey. Fill cup with hot water.

[freshwest]

4. My recipe for a Hot Toddy was dark rum, honey and lemon in hot water.

I'm not sure why these recipes always have alcohol. For me, inhaling the steam from boiling water while cooking does wonders. And hot, strong oregano tea clears up my bronchial tubes, but it tastes horrible.

When I feel a cold or flu coming on, I make a vegetable soup recipe with a lot of herbs in it and it never fails to clean out everything.

I often put herbs in my food, like Scarborough Fair's, 'parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme' in heavy amounts for their cleansing effects. And I like the taste and the aroma, too.

Your recipe sounds as if it tastes really good, even without any medicinal claims. If you want I'll post what I call my medicinal soup recipe, but it's good eating for any time, really. At least I think so.

[Melissa G]

6. I think the trick for me is local honey

I believe I use half a lemon (could be a whole) and a capful (shot) of Brandy in a tea cup of hot water. The local honey sweetens it and gives the anti allergic properties. It's been awhile, but yes, lovely brew. If I am miserable, hubby usually makes it for me, which is why I am hazy about it.

I also use Gypsy Cold Cure PM tea. That also helps- between the two I do fairly well.

Various other herbs, depending on the cause, get used. Mucus usually means I need to clean out my colon, avoid dairy etc.

[flamin lib]

7. Something else that helps is mushroom soup

No, not cream soup but sliced fresh mushrooms simmered in clear chicken stock with a tbs of Jack Daniels. Can't stand to drink the stuff but keep a pint for cooking. Sub it for anything calling for brandy; it lends a smokey woodsy flavor. Mushrooms in particular love the stuff.

[northoftheborder]

8. My favorites for sore throat, hoarse throat

Dr. Pepper, heated to steaming in cup, with a hunk of lemon in it. (Dr. Pepper may not be available outside the south.)

Or, just hot lemonade, sweetened with honey.

[htuttle]

9. I think we still have Dr Pepper up here

We used to when I was younger.

I understand it's made from Prunes, btw. It's supposedly where that sort of hard-to-place Dr Pepper flavor comes from.

[annabanana]

10. Rachel Maddow's Hot Toddy (screen capture)

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