Anti-Inflammatory Health Tonic

This is a new batch that I tweaked of this recipe.  Wanting to add in a few more ingredients for their health properties, and it came out really delicious.  

We are taken down with a summer cold/flu monstrosity that has me aching, fatigued, runny nose, burning throat, loss of voice, head and heading toward chest congestion if I don't take care.  About 4 years ago, I completely gave up medicine and have resorted to a more complete Ayurvedic or Hippocrates belief.. "Let food be thy medicine".  I have a health tonic that I drink regularly in the winter at least every 2 days and I did not get any of the nasty colds or flus that went by.  And there were a lot! Having a 5 year old, we are in contact with germs quite regularly, like it or not. Still thinking about that bubble we should probably live in. No seriously, we didn't catch much.  Til now. Which when I think back, I have not been taking my super immunity boosting drink since cold weather left.  Hmm. I do believe it works.  

Well, back to the tonic.   This tonic has a base of turmeric, ginger, lemon, cinnamon, cardamon and garlic.  Sweetened with honey and balanced out with some lemon juice at the end of the simmering time, makes this drink actually enjoyable.  Well, it's not ice cream.. but still enjoyable in a healing, soothing way. 

Enough said, give it a try and get on the road to better already. 

Turmeric-Ginger Tea

1 piece of fresh turmeric root (1-2" piece), grated (or 1-2 t. powder) 

1 piece of fresh ginger root, (1-2" piece), grated

peel of 1 organic lemon 
juice of peeled lemon (easier if you peel first, then juice)

1 clove of garlic, smashed or use garlic press (important to let sit 5-10 minutes to allow the allicin to produce!!)

1 t. cardamon

1 piece of cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a pan with 2 cups of water, bring to boil.  Reduce and simmer for 8 minutes. Strain some into a cup adding lemon juice and honey to taste. 

Notes: 

I drink my 1st cup hot and place the rest in the fridge.  Later I can either heat up or enjoy iced.  It is good both ways. 

When making tonics, I believe it is crucial to use top quality organic ingredients.  Turmeric is not readily available at grocery stores but I usually find it at the health food store or farm stand. 

Cardamon I purchase at the grocery store in the Natural Foods section.. in the bulk spices section.  There I find organic cardamon.  I love it here and in chai. Yum!

Cherry Mojito Punch & Mocktail

Getting ready for a friend's baby shower this weekend.  Trying to think of punch recipes and going through the archives, thought I should post this as it is a delicious and refreshing option for the punch bowl!  Utilizing all the juice options out there..  This recipe is a good base for taking it several different ways, depending on the flavor you choose.  The original recipe is made with Ocean Spray Cran-Cherry Cocktail.  It is a great place to start.  But there are a lot of other options.  I don't necessarily buy from the Cran spray food giant.. but tend to lean more toward the healthier or organic choices out there.  But in a pinch.. this is a quickie that works.  For the shower this needs to be a mocktail (non-alcoholic)  but this made with vodka would be delicious, too.. if you wanted to spike it up.  Martha's Cherry Mojitos recipe that I posted here is another seriously delicious, but boozy option I used to make often.  

Cherry Mojito Mocktail and Punch Recipe

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 

4 oz. Ocean Spray® Cran-Cherry Cocktail
5 mint leaves
2 oz. Ocean Spray® Sweet & sour mix (or Mrs. T's)
2 oz. lemonade
Shake and pour into a 16 oz. glass (mason jars work great)
Add more ice 
Top with 1 oz. club soda and garnish with a mint sprig


For a large punch bowl add

4 (32 oz.) bottles of Cran-Cherry
1 (1 liter) bottle of Sweet & Sour mix 
1 (32 oz) bottle lemonade
1 bunch of mint, leaves separated off stems
Mix together, Add ice
Top with 1 liter Club Soda

The designer touch... Add some halved, pitted (fresh) cherries and mint sprig for garnish.