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In all but the luckiest parts of the country, it's winter. And in winter, people get cold, they crank up the heat, and then get dried out and hit with big, ugly, eco-unfriendly utility bills. No good!
Fortunately for our wallets, and the earth, there's plenty of information out there on how to stay warmer, smarter. You can block crawlspace vents and insulate the door to your garage. You can even make rice pouch mitten warmers and go to bed with a hottie. Who doesn't love that idea?
And on top of all that, you can take a page out of vintage bartender books (The Bartenders Guide by Jerry Thomas, cerca 1862, to be precise), and warm yourself from the inside with a Hot Toddy. Hot Toddies are simple, soothing wintertime drinks that can be made from pretty much anything you have laying around your liquor cabinet. Just add a sweetener (sugar or honey), a bit of citrus (lemon or orange), boiling water, and enjoy! Add a warm spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove) if you're feeling sassy.
When your inside is warm, your outside feels warm too. And one of the best internal heaters is a bit o' the old firewater. So invite some friends, turn off the heat for an hour or two, and enjoy your liquid warmth. Just be sure to drink some water while you're at it.
Basic Hot Toddy
1 ounce brandy or rum
1 ounce honey
1/2 lemon slice studded with 2 cloves
Cinnamon stick
Combine liquor, honey, and lemon in a cup and cover with boiling water. Serve with a cinnamon stick to use as a stirrer or straw.
Apple Toddy
1 tablespoon sugar
1 wine glass of brandy (Calvados, if possible)
1/2 of a baked apple
Nutmeg
Put sugar, brandy and apple in a bar glass or large mug. Fill the glass two-thirds full of boiling water, and grate a little nutmeg on top.
Whiskey Toddy*
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 wine glass of boiling water
1 ounce whiskey
Combine ingredients, stir, enjoy.
*The Whiskey Toddy can even save you doctor's bills! From The Gentleman's Companion by Charles H. Baker (Crown Publishers, 1946): "Taken sanely and in moderation whiskey is beneficial, aids digestion, helps throw off colds, megrims, and influenzas. Used improperly the effect is just as bad as stuffing on too many starchy foods, taking no exercise, or disliking our neighbor."
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