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 received actually sick (pneumonia at 18 months), the physician firmly instructed me, “Something to maintain her hydrated. Juice, Jell-O, ice cream, actually something with water content material.” I assumed he was being dramatic, however I quickly realized simply how hard-headed a sick toddler may be. We actually did attempt every thing, and every tablespoon of liquid was a battle.
I remembered that recommendation one Saturday, a 12 months later, when Margot had a daily previous chilly. The three of us have been operating errands and popped into an area French bakery, the place I noticed lemon juice on the menu. Citron chaud, quite — in any other case generally known as sizzling lemonade. The menu described it as the standard French formulation: contemporary lemon juice, steamed, then minimize with a touch of sizzling 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 whole disinterest in something remotely hydrating — and I puzzled if it would work.
Reader, she beloved it. She virtually choked on the primary bitter sip — then dove proper again in. She beloved it a lot that, after steeling myself, I attempted a style. And immediately, I received the enchantment. Citron chaud is bracing and warming — a nice 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 residence:
Citron Chaud
Serves 1-2
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4-5 lemons, relying on dimension)
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’ll be able to 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 sizzling 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 definately’ve made it appropriately. If, after making an attempt, you wish to take it down a notch, then go forward and add the opposite 1/4 cup of water and second teaspoon of honey. However should you’re up for it, I encourage you to attempt no less than one cup at hoo-ah stage. It’s like a very good slap on the again, proper when you actually need one.
Do you might 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.
