Remedy for What Ails You: Ginger, Lemon, Garlic, Honey and Cayenne Teas

When you have a sore throat and are coming down with a cold, ginger and cayenne tea is the way to go. Add lemon, garlic, and honey and you'll be fixed up well quickly.

The strong taste, the heat from the cayenne and the warmth of the garlic will help you sweat out whatever ails you.

Oh, and if you so desire, add a bit of bourbon or whiskey for a little something extra.

Ginger and Cayenne Tea

Ingredients

  • 1 lemon, cut in half, juice squeezed into the pan
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (if you must, you can use 1/8 tsp ground ginger)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, skin removed, cut into chunks

Method:

  1. Put everything in a small saucepan.
  2. Bring the brew to a boil, reduce to medium and heat for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Strain through a funnel into a cup or bowl.
  4. Drink while still piping hot.
  5. Wrap up in warm blankets and sleep the night away.

Beet Marmalade: The Easiest Homemade Condiment

Want to impress your friends? This homemade beet marmalade should do the job. It's incredibly easy to make, and a great flavor combination.

All it takes is some cooked beets, lemon, ginger and sugar. The marmalade thickens as it cools, so don't be surprised at the consistency. Wait for it to completely cool in sterilized jars before spreading it on your favorite toast. Better yet, you can spread it on this great coffee cake to add a bit of savory to the sweetness.

I would like to say thanks to my cook-the-book partners. This is our last installment from Marion Cunningham's The Breakfast Book. We started in July and ended today, with 13 chapters under our belts. I never would have tried half of what I did, so thanks for the ladies who blogged alongside me: Rachel, Aimee, Emily and Claudie. We had Sammy join us for a good bit of the book, too. It has been a pleasure getting to know each of you and I am amazed at the community that we have formed through our online alliance.

Enjoy the beet marmalade, and have a very happy and healthy new year!

Beet Marmalade

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium-large beets, cooked and peeled
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 large lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger

Method:

  1. Put the beets in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped; or mash the beets by hand.
  2. Transfer the beets to a heavy-bottomed saucepan and stir in the sugar.
  3. Put the lemon and ginger into the food processor and process until finely chopped; or chop them by hand.
  4. Add the lemon and ginger to the beet mixture and stir to blend.
  5. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the marmalade has thickened a little.
  6. This takes about 20 minutes – remember that the marmalade will get thicker considerably as it cools.
  7. Remove from the heat and put up in sterilized jars if you are not going to use the marmalade for a month or more otherwise it will keep well in the refrigerator.

To learn how to sterilize jars, click here.

Not Your Average Hummus: English Snap Pea and Lemon Spread

Do you love hummus? I do. It's time I learn to make some.

Spring has sprung, meaning that there are tons of fresh peas and other great vegetables showing up at the farmer's markets around town. English snap peas, lemon and thyme are all in my kitchen right now, so that's what I'm using to make my "hummus".

Garlic usually plays a big role in hummus recipes. I wanted to make this spread a little bit mellower, so have omitted the garlic. The snap peas and lemon are really bright in flavor and fresh. It just tastes like Spring.

Serve this on it's own, or add it to a pizza, like I did.

English Snap Pea and Lemon Spread

INGREDIENTS

  • 20 to 30 English snap peas, shelled, and rinsed
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 4 mint leaves, shredded
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
  • Coarse salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION

  1. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl except the salt and pepper.
  2. Using a fork or a potato masher, mash the ingredients until they are almost pureed.
  3. Finish with salt and pepper.