Cure for the common cold

This past week was the one whole week in a 7 week period where Bo and I were both at home. And coincidentally, it was also the one week where we all got sick. So that was not awesome and I'm glad it's behind us. Sunday night, Bo started to feel a cold coming on. Monday morning, Molly got spayed. Monday evening I had caught Bo's cold. By Tuesday morning, we were all a hot mess. So we decided to bring out the big guns and kill our colds for good. Bo refuses to take any kind of medicine besides Tylenol/Advil, so we have devised our own cure for the common cold: a few Hotty Toddy's and Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Sarah first introduced us to the Hotty Toddy (we've made a few improvements to it) and the soup has been (and still is) continually improving over the past few years. We loaded up on both of these remedies Tuesday evening, slept for a solid 9-10 hours, and by Wednesday morning we had recovered. It's a miraculous cure and amazes me every time.  Our recipes are below in case you find yourself under the weather. The hotty toddy makes for a delicious winter drink, whether you are sick or not ;)


Hotty Toddy

4 ounces boiling water

4 ounces whiskey

2 teaspoons honey

1/2 cinnamon stick

3 whole cloves

1 thick lemon slice

pinch of ground nutmeg



Pour the boiling water, whiskey, and honey into a mug.
Add the cloves, cinnamon, and lemon slice.
Let cool for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with nutmeg right before serving.



Chicken Noodle Soup

1 onion
7 celery stalks
7 carrots
5 skinless boneless chicken legs
3 skinless boneless chicken breasts
8 oz. package of medium egg noodles
a few dashes of dried parsley
a few dashes of tobasco sauce


Fill a large pot halfway full of water; add a few good shakes of salt.
Cut the fat off the chicken breasts; add to the water.
Slice the chicken leg meat against the bone, exposing the bone but not comlpetely taking the meat off; add to the water.
Cut the onion, celery, and carrots into desired slices; add to the water.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper and parsley.
Bring to a boil for 15 minutes.
Turn down the heat, and shred all the chicken meat using tongs and a fork (do not remove chicken from the pot).
Bring back to a boil.
Add the noodles; boil for 9 minutes.
Add a few good shakes of tobasco sauce.
Let cool before serving.