Comfort on A Cold Day

The snufflings, sneezings, shivers and general malaise of the past few days have been ameliorated by generous servings of both comfort food and drink. Chicken soup, of course - a hearty tinola this time, with even more ginger and garlic than usually called for (3x2 in. chunk and 5-6 cloves, respectively, along with 3.5 lbs. of chicken, a medium onion, 6 cups of water and about 3-4 tbsp. patis).

 

And a nice hot toddy, whether with or without tea.

 

Catchup posts - including braised bok choy and bento collections - in a bit.

Comfort Drinks: The Hot Tea Toddy

I've been home sick the past couple of days and relying heavily on the Holy Trinity of cold sufferers: ginger, lemon and honey. The first I've gotten via a large pot of chicken tinola, which I've been eating over the past day and a half with garlic steamed rice. The last two have come via tea and this nighttime version, a riff on the usual hot toddy.

• 6 oz. water
• 1 teabag (I used camomile, like Peter Rabbit's mom, then switched to Sleepytime when I ran out)
• 1 oz. whiskey or bourbon (Evan Williams was fine)
• honey (1-1/2 to 2 tsp. for me)
• lemon juice (2 or so tsp. for me)

Boil water. Pour into mug and add teabag. Steep teabag for a few minutes.

Add spirits, honey and lemon juice; correct seasonings if necessary.

NOTE: Tip of the hat to John, who broke his too-long silence by posting the recipe to these wonderful bread-and-butter pickles we - well, strictly he, as I was still at work during the process - made.