Thirsty Thursdays: Impending Death Edition

Perhaps you've guessed by my absence - both on my blog and yours - that all is not well in Divaland. True enough ... the Diva is, indeed, unwell. I don't get sick often, but when I do - I get really sick. I don't do things half-way. Like I always say, anything worth doing is worth doing right.

I started getting sick on Monday night and, naturally, by Tuesday I'd convinced myself I was dying of Swine Flu. I'm nothing if not a world class hypochondriac. Fortunately, that's not the case and reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated ... by me. I will recover indeed, but suffice it to say there's been precious little going on in my kitchen this week. I haven't had the energy to cook and I'm not hungry either. Feh.

And, obviously, I haven't had any scrumptious new cocktails. Its been nothing but water, tea and ginger ale for me ... all sipped between countless hours of inane reality television. Is it just me or is "The Real Housewives of New York City" the most offensive show on the planet? Ugh. I got your "real housewife" right here. She's on my living room couch; decked out in her leopard skin pajamas, box of tissues and a bowl of Tylenol by her side. She's me. *I* am a real housewife of New York City! But I digress ...

Because I'm committed to ensuring that Thirsty Thursdays will go on in some fashion or other, I did revive long enough to mix myself up something tasty. Sans, booze this time, but no reason you can't dump some into your own brew when making this for yourself. I'll include the boozy option for those so inclined.

Magical Healing Tea:

• 4 1/2 cups of water
• 1 whole cinnamon stick
• 1 or 2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
• 12 whole black pepper corns
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
  
• generous grating of fresh nutmeg
• 4 good quality black tea bags - I use Barry's Irish Tea
• some honey to taste
  
• milk, optional
• booze - such as brandy, Irish whiskey, B&B, or even scotch, optional
• lemon, if desired
  

Place the water, cinnamon, ginger, peppercorns, cloves, cardamom and nutmeg in a sauce pan, cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove the cover, add the tea bags and allow to simmer, very gently, for 5 more minutes. Strain the liquid into four mugs, or tea cups, add some honey and milk to taste and serve. If desired, you may replace the milk with any of the above boozy options and serve the spiced tea as a hot toddy. Personally, I'm partial to the brandy or Irish whiskey, but do as you see fit.

If you're going the boozy route, omit the milk and opt for a lovely slice of lemon to go with. Serve and enjoy, repeat as necessary!

As written, this recipe will serve four and it is more or less my homemade version of chai. Its good with or without the booze and with the added punch of fresh ginger - guaranteed to cure what ever ails you. I hope you'll try it!

I also hope to be back to business as usual next week ... meaning we'll be getting our drink on for real come Thursday.

So, what's your go to beverage when you're under the weather? Sickly Diva wants to know.

Bon appetit!