What are your go-to comforts whenever you’ve caught a chilly? I’m going straight for tomato soup; my husband likes mint tea. And my daughter? She will get French lemonade. Hear me out.
Anybody who’s taken a sick child to the pediatrician has heard the recommendation: don’t stress about meals; simply hold them hydrated. The primary time Margot acquired actually sick (pneumonia at 18 months), the physician firmly informed me, “Something to maintain her hydrated. Juice, Jell-O, ice cream, actually something with water content material.” I believed he was being dramatic, however I quickly realized simply how hard-headed a sick toddler could be. We actually did strive every little thing, and every tablespoon of liquid was a battle.
I remembered that recommendation one Saturday, a 12 months later, when Margot had an everyday outdated chilly. The three of us had been working errands and popped into an area French bakery, the place I noticed lemon juice on the menu. Citron chaud, fairly — in any other case generally known as scorching lemonade. The menu described it as the standard French formulation: recent lemon juice, steamed, then minimize with a splash of scorching water and simply dab of honey. In different phrases, an enormous mug of highly regarded, very bitter liquid. I checked out my droopy toddler — lips parched from one other week of complete disinterest in something remotely hydrating — and I puzzled if it would work.
Reader, she cherished it. She virtually choked on the primary bitter sip — then dove proper again in. She cherished it a lot that, after steeling myself, I attempted a style. And immediately, I acquired the enchantment. Citron chaud is bracing and warming — a pleasing jolt to the system. It someway looks like taking a shot and cozying up with a cup of tea. And typically it’s simply what the physician ordered.
Right here’s how I make it at dwelling:
Citron Chaud
Serves 1-2
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4-5 lemons, relying on measurement)
1/4-1/2 cup highly regarded water
1-2 tsp honey
Add lemon juice to a saucepan, and set over a excessive warmth till it simply begins to simmer. Take away from the burner and pour into mugs. You may both pour the entire thing into one giant mug (or a small bowl, if you wish to be correctly french about it), or divide it into two. Add 1/4 cup of scorching water, and stir in 1 tsp of honey till it dissolves.
Now, take a deep breath, and provides it a style. If it makes you shout, “Hoo-ah!” like Al Pacino, then you definitely’ve made it accurately. If, after making an attempt, you need to take it down a notch, then go forward and add the opposite 1/4 cup of water and second teaspoon of honey. However when you’re up for it, I encourage you to strive at the very least one cup at hoo-ah stage. It’s like slap on the again, proper when you really want one.
Do you may have a sick-day drink or meals? I’d love to listen to about your comforts or slap-on-the-back recipes!
P.S. Three extra heat drinks for winter days, and two methods to make chai.
