{recipe} Hot Toddy
It’s that time of the year…. everyone’s sick! *groan* We’ve been talking about the benefits of hot toddies over on Facebook and someone wanted to know what it was.
A hot toddy (or hot totty) is a warm cocktail. People seem to love them on cold nights, to drink them before bedtime, or use them to fight colds. A variety of liquors can be used, with brandy, whiskey and rum being the most popular.
Personally, I can’t stand the thought of drinking one, but a lot of people swear by them for colds, so I did some research and came up with a hot toddy recipe for my minions.
Irish Claddagh Coffee Mugs
Why these ingredients? The hot tea and lemon help your congestion while the cloves and honey soothe a sore throat. Nutmeg and cinnamon help fight the coughing. Cinnamon is also a known antibacterial and has anti-inflammatory properties. The liquor helps you to rest a little better. Sip your hot toddy very slowly to allow it to soothe your sore throat, clear your nose and relax your aching muscles.
If you have a sick child that you’d like to make one for, simply leave out the liquor.
Remember, I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv. 
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp brandy, rum, or whiskey
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 cup boiling hot water
- 1 tea bag
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Instructions:
- Coat the bottom of a large mug with honey.
- Add the liquor, lemon juice, cloves, and cinnamon stick.
- Add the tea bag to boiling water to make hot tea.
- Fill the mug with steaming tea. Stir.
- Let the flavors mingle by letting the mixture stand for 5 minutes. If the hot toddy cools off too much during this time, you may wish to reheat it a bit in the microwave.
- Sprinkle with the nutmeg before serving.
