Smiths' Super Cold & Flu Soother

My wife learned this recipe from her aged grandmother in the Dominican Republic. "People get colds in the Caribean?" I asked. "Oh yes," she said. "All the time." I leaned on my snow shovel and said, "Somehow that makes me feel better already!"

So, anytime you come down with cold or flu symptoms, try this deceptively simple home remedy. It may not cure anything, but it sure helps you feel better! (And what could it hurt?)

Ingredients:

[ ] Lime, 1 fresh & washed fruit

[ ] Cinnamon, 3-4 sticks

[ ] Cloves, 6-8 whole

[ ] Honey, 3-4 or more tablespoons

[ ] Water, 2 cups

Directions:

• Pour the 2 cups of water into a saucepan.
• Cut the lime in half, squeeze the juice into the water, and then toss both halves into the water, too.
• Add the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves to the "tea."
• Boil away about half of the water, until only one cup of liquid remains.
• Strain the tea into a cup.
• Add honey to taste, to make the tea sweet. It usually takes lots of honey--don't be shy about adding more.
• Drink it all down while it's still hot.

TIPS: Double the recipe--you'll want more. Also, the first time around, few people will take the trouble to make this for themselves (probably because they feel so crummy). So, if possible, make it for them. They'll thank you.