Winter seems to be fast approaching, and tonight I was craving a really good cup of hot milk. I decided to do a variation of a milk my mother always gave me when I felt unwell as a child, with haldi (turmeric) and honey.
Makes 1 serving.
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces milk (any kind you like - I use 1% milk)
- 1 cinnamon stick (preferable), or 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon
- 3 cloves
- 2 cardamom pods (preferable), or a pinch of ground cardamom
- 1/3 of a nutmeg (preferable), or about 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- Pinch of ground ginger
- Pinch of turmeric powder
- 2 tsp honey (or more, to taste)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2-3 tsp Bailey's Irish Cream liquor, whiskey, bourbon, dark rum (whatever strikes your fancy, and this is optional but definitely delicious)
Directions:
- Pour milk into a small saucepan and set your stove on very low heat.
- Add all ingredients except the turmeric, honey, vanilla, and alcohol (if using).
- Once the milk has started to heat, but before it starts to boil, add the turmeric and the honey. Don't add too much honey at first -- you can always add more at the end, but you don't want this to be overly sweet.
- As you see the first very small bubbles begin to form, add the vanilla.
- Once milk has started to froth but before it reaches a rolling boil, turn off the heat.
- Add the alcohol (if using).
- Put a strainer over a mug, and pour the milk into the mug.
- Toss all the whole spices -- unless you want to keep the cinnamon stick in the milk as you drink it, as garnish -- and have a "good night"!
