Hot lemon drink for a spring cold

Every few months someone I know has a cold and this recipe, from an old Martha Stewart is the recipe I want to give them. The recipe isn't online (until now, I guess).

First my (lazy) version and then the original. The lazy one is good for sick people bumping around the kitchen. The ginger simple syrup from the original is a nice get-well gift for an ill one.

Lazy hot ginger drink (serves 1):

Place a generous chunk of peeled fresh ginger in a big mug. Fill mug with boiling water. Place a saucer on top of mug. Let steep for 5 minutes. Then add: 1 T fresh lemon juice, 1–3 tsp honey, depending on your tastes and 2 cloves. Let sit for another 5 minutes. Remove ginger and cloves. It is now ready an cool enough to drink.

The cloves will help soothe your throat, too. Get tucked up in bed.


Hot Lemon with Ginger, Honey & Cloves (serves 4):

1/2 cup ginger simple syrup (see below)
4 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp honey
3 cups boiling water
12 whole cloves
4 lemon wedges
12 honey-drop candies (you see these in candy stores sometimes — I picked some up when I came across some and held onto them to use for this recipe. It was pretty good. But there is a reason I made a lazy version of this recipe.)

1. Pour 2 T simple syrup in each of four heatproof glasses or mugs. Add 1 T lemon juice, 1 tsp honey and 3/4 cup boiling water to each. Stir until honey candy dissolves.
2. Stick 3 cloves into each lemon wedge; drop a wedge and 3 candies into each drink.

To make Ginger simple syrup:

(makes 3/4 cup)
4 ounces fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
In a small saucepan, bring all ingredients to a boil over medium heat. Cook 2 minutes. Strain the mixture through a sieve, discarding ginger. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week.