THESE WE COVET: Beer

The January blues (depending on where you live) can really take its toll. It seems that people everywhere are sneezing, blowing their noses, battling colds, fighting flus, or just over tired in general.

Decmber can be pretty hectic, and January may be the worst month of the year weather-wise, so it does not come as a huge shock.

It seems to me that for the past year or two, sicknesses, including just a common cold, are lasting MUCH longer than they used to. A few years ago and prior, how long did it take you to kick a common cold?...3-4 days? Now it seems like colds linger for 2, 3, and sometimes even 4 weeks + before you feel like it's completely out of your system, and talking to other people I know I'm not alone on this.

If you're feeling a little bit down and out, here are a few easy things you can make at home that will make you feel better (or at the very least, cheer you up a bit).

Hot water with Lemon, Ginger, Honey, and Cayenne

Simplicity at it's best. What can't you cure with these ingredients? ; ) It's cheap, easy, tasty, and a great way to help you feel better. The two minutes it takes to boil water and slice up some lemon and ginger is definately two minutes well spent. As if lemon and ginger were not healthy enough, kick it up a notch and add a pinch of cayenne pepper. For those of you who don't know the health benefits of cayenne: it improves circulation, rebuilds blood cells, lowers cholesterol, emulsifies triglycerides, removes toxins from the bloodstream and improves overall heart health...look it up for yourself if you don't beleive me ; )

Banana Bread

Don't let those over ripe bananas go to waste!
There's something very comforting about warm banana bread on a cold day. It does not quite have the same health benefits as the lemon-ginger tea, but will make you feel just as good!

This is a very simple recipe that will become a staple in your house. Minimal steps, common ingredients you likely already have on hand, and minimal cleanup are key especially when you're not feeling great to begin with. You can easily get this into the oven in under 15 minutes, and then just kick back and relax while it bakes and permiates the house with that wonderful "baking" scent.

Here's what you'll need...

3-4 over ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup of melted butter
3/4 cup of sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups of all-purp flour
dash of cinnamon
pinch of salt
Optional - small handful of chocolate chips
Optional - small handful of chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a spatula mix the melted butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add your chocolate chips and nuts now if you're using them. Add the flour last, mix just until no dry flour remains. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 mins. Let cool slightly on rack before slicing and serving.

Antioxidant-laden salad

Everyone feels a little better after eating a salad. I always feel better after I eat something if I'm feeling ill...even if my body does not feel hungry. Pick up some antioxidant rich fruits - blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, pomegranates...pretty much all of your deeply pigmented fruits - and add them to a salad.

Whiskey

And last but not least, if all else fails, do what they did in the old days and pour yourself a whiskey neat or on the rocks. Those frozen rocks are pretty slick - they cool your drink without watering it down - I'll post more about those later.

What do you make yourself when you're feeling under the weather? We'd love to know, please share your tips and tricks in the comments section below!

We love beer regardless of the season, but like a lot of things some varieties are better in certain seasons than others.

When I think of great beer for late fall and winter I want something that is bold, robust, can warm up your insides, but is still refreshing. Also something that pairs well with a nice warm hearty meal (think winter comfort food ie. roasts, stews, soups, earthy winter veg, etc).

Here are a few of my favorite beers for the winter season. If you can get these where you live, give one a try (if you haven't already).

Howe Sound Brewing - Rail Ale Nut Brown: This one defines the term "smooth"...a flavourful nut brown ale with hints of chocolate and licorice and a delicious roasted malt finish. Drinks well with ANYTHING, but particularily hearty fare such as burgers, sausages, stews and smoked fish, as well as many cheeses and desserts.

Innis & Gunn - Rum Cask Oak Aged Beer: A perfect marraige of rum and beer...they're children will be beautiful ; ) Aged in oak barrels that previously contained navy rum, this ale acquires aromas of caramel, toffee and citrus fruits. Deep red in color, it's matched with the unique, sweet, spicy flavours imparted by the rum barrel and a hint of vanilla that’s compliments of the oak. Definitely a sipping beer, and the higher alcohol content (7.4%) results in a warm finish (because baby it's cold outside).

Guinness: The Black Stuff. People either seem to love it or hate it. With the deep earthy flavours and silky smooth head I'm not sure what is not to ~~like~~ love here. The "perfect pint" of Guinness requires a double-pour method which according to the company should take 119.53 seconds, hence the slogan "good things come to those who wait". Studies claim that Guinness can be beneficial to the heart - researchers found that "antioxidant compounds' in Guinness, similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables, are responsible for health benefits because they slow down the deposit of harmful cholesterol on the artery walls...enough said, cheers to that!

Granville Island Brewing - Lions Winter Ale: One of my favorite beers in the entire Granville Island lineup. The caramel malt and vanilla flavours will make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside (ladies, think "Love Actually"). Only available October - March, this is a nice balance of sweet and bitter that is perfect for a cold winter day.

Brooylyn Lager & Sam Adams Boston Lager: Both are great day-in-day-out beers to have stocked in the fridge. Really, these are great throughout the year, but the strong malt flavours supported by a refreshing bitterness and floral hop aromas make them both great matches for earthy winter-style foods and snacks. Sam Adams even claims their beer tastes better in their specially designed glasses...I say it tastes great even if drinken out of an empty paint bucket. Can't go wrong with either.

Russell Brewing - Blood Alley Bitter: Part of their Brewmaster Series of speciality beers...picture a cold but sunny winter day, you've just finished a few hours of snowshoeing, snowboarding, or other outdoor activity, and are craving a crisp and flavourful reward for your efforts...this is the one. Slightly higher in bitterness than the average bitter but very well balanced by the rich, roasted malt flavours (hello winter!) and crisp finish. The well-designed painted label shows that they take care both inside and outside of the bottle.

I have to admit, these 7 beers really don't make winter seem all that bad!

Which one's did I miss?...Chime in with some of your favorite winter beers.