Sick Day Smoothie & Naughty Hot Toddy

Anyone else home sick today? A killer cold followed me home from California and has been making the rounds in Houston, leaving anyone in its path bundled up beneath a mountain of blankets and glued to their new BFF - Netflix. I've decided to annihilate my cold today with big bowls of chicken noodle soup, Vitamin Water, Flinstones vitamins, Mucinex, and this oh-so sexy onesie (You know you want one, grab a similar one here).

Even though I've been fighting a cold, it hasn't kept me out of the kitchen. I don't have the strength to whip up anything too time consuming, so smoothies and teas will have to do for now. 

First up, Bloat Blaster smoothies. After the holidays and all the food and booze that came with it, I came home feeling like I'd make the perfect balloon for a Thanksgiving Day parade. This wretched feeling had to simply had to go. After some research, I found that foods high in potassium, papain, along with a little peppermint tea, can work wonders. 

2 cups papaya

1 whole banana

1 container of Yoplait Light peach yogurt

½ cup fresh pineapple chunks

½ cup fat free milk

½ cup of organic pu-erh tea 

12 ice cubes

For an added cleanse, you can throw in a few stalks of asparagus too. Still delicious, just gives off more of a "grassy" flavor (like a wheat grass shot from Jamba Juice). It's up to you, really. Some people love it, some people hate it.

This smoothie has a boost of vitamins that will get you fitting right back into your jeans and jump-starting your immune system. Fair warning - If you have a big event, birthday party, or hot date to the movies coming up, drink this a couple days before or simply wait until after. All that built up gas has got to go somewhere and trust me, you don't want to be a party pooper or your making the audience miserable during Les Misérable. (See what I did there?)

On that note, I need a cocktail. Nothing says wintertime like cupping your hands around a huge mug, sipping on a Hot Toddy. Slight variations in my recipe, as the standard Hot Toddy mixture (hot water, lemon, honey, brandy) bores me to tears. I need more flavors and vitamin C to help cure this cold. 

2 cups hot water

½ cup apple juice

fresh squeezed juice from ½ orange

1 shot brandy (you can use whisky or rum)

1 spoonful honey

garnish with lemon slice

sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top

(makes 1 large mug)

Whether you're home sick or feeling fantastic, remember to take your vitamins and keep that immune system strong until this virus runs its course and gradually fades away.  

Wishing you a very Happy New Year! Cheers! 

♥