Goldilocks Turmeric Milk: A Warm, Soothing Drink!


Goldilocks Turmeric Milk: A Warm, Soothing Drink!

It’s FALL! Among all the pumpkin patches, leaf piles and cute costumes, the season can bring some unwanted guests as well: coughs and colds!

And it just so happens that the other day poor Penelope was moping around the house with a stuffy nose. I remembered that the spice turmeric is known for its healing properties, so I fished it out of our spice cabinet and fixed her up a warm, spiced milk on the stove. It took almost no time at all, was so easy to do, and had our kitchen smelling incredible!

Turmeric may help reduce inflammation, and has been used for many thousands of years in Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine for a multitude of conditions, including colds (WebMD). Healing properties aside, this milk makes for a tasty, soothing drink!

We call it our “Goldilocks Milk” because it turns out to be a beautiful golden color.

goldilocks_turmeric_milk_2

Not only was the Goldilocks Turmeric Milk delicious (I had some, too), but it provided some comfort for Penelope and made for a nice warm drink for us on a cold and rainy day. We topped it off with some cinnamon, for a nice flavorful touch.

goldilocks_turmeric_milk

Here is our recipe, below.

Goldilocks Turmeric Milk: A Warm, Soothing Drink!

Age: 15 months+
Yield: 2 cups
Food storage: drink immediately
Total time: 15 minutes

  • 2 cups unsweetened almond milk. (Since we’re using this recipe to help with a cold, we stay away from dairy in this instance as dairy can cause inflammation.)
  • 1 tsp. dried turmeric
  • 1 tsp. dried ginger (or 1/2 inch fresh ginger, peeled and finely sliced)
  • 2 tsp. honey (preferably local)
  • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  • small pinch of black pepper
  • shake of cinnamon (for topping)

Pour the milk into a medium-sized saucepan, and place on the stove over medium heat. Stir in the turmeric, ginger, honey, nutmeg, and black pepper. (Use a whisk if needed, to blend ingredients.)

Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, careful not to overheat. Stir for another minute, then cover, remove from heat, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. If you used fresh ginger, either pour mixture through a strainer or use a slotted spoon to remove large pieces.

Once the drink has cooled enough but is still nice and warm, pour into cups appropriate for you and your toddler, top with a shake of cinnamon, and enjoy!

*Note: turmeric can have a slightly bitter taste; however, the longer you let it simmer, the less bitter it becomes. The trick is to keep a watch on the pot, and keep stirring — this way it won’t overflow and leave you with a big mess on your stove!

 

About Alessandra Macaluso

Alessandra Macaluso is author of What a Good Eater! and The Real-Deal Bridal Bible, host of the Real-Deal Brides Podcast, and blogger at AlessandraMacaluso.com. Alessandra’s work is featured in several anthologies, most recently But Did You Die? which is the fifth installment in a New York Times bestselling series. She has contributed to The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and many other online publications. Her original screenplay “Polar Suburbia” placed as a semi-finalist in the Moondance Film Festival. Alessandra is mom to two toddlers and a twenty-five pound Maine coon cat who believes he is a dog. She spends her time driving her OCD husband completely nuts with her constant rearrangement of scenery in their home. Learn more at AlessandraMacaluso.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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