Hot toddy

The weather suddenly dropped like a bitch on Friday, from 12 to about -4 degrees.

We stayed in, watched movies that involved little thinking (Bolt and Yes Man)and got drunk off tea and soup (I am not kidding)

Andy got a sore throat (and now me)with sniffles so he got a bottle of scotch and made a hot cocktail called the hot toddy, which supposedly fights colds and helps with throats.


Andy's Hot Toddy Recipe
I cup hot tea
2 tablespoons honey
1 shot whiskey
1 wedge lemon

1. Stir tea, honey and whiskey together.
2. Squeeze in juice of lemon.
3. Drink Up.


My reaction to cold weather, as always, was to cook up a big pot of vegetable soup. Minestrone, in that day's case, with a cup and a half of sauvignon blanc.


My personal remedy for lousy weather

Minestrone Soup

4 tablespoons olive oil
½ Chopped onion
¼ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped carrots
½ cup diced cherry tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can cannellini beans
½ cup shredded cabbage
4 tablespoon tomato paste
1 potato, cubed
900 ml vegetable broth
1 tablespoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 ½ cup dry white wine
Salt
Parmesan cheese

1.Melt olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, tomatoes and carrots; saute for a few minutes till onions get brownish.
2.Add beans, cabbage, tomato paste, potato, garlic, stock, wine, parsley, oregano and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer for around 40 minutes.
3.Add more white wine if you feel like it.
4. Top with parmesan cheese