ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI: THIS HOT TODDY IS BEST MEDICINE FOR WINTER COLD

Since I'm never going to live this one down, I'm going to be the one to tell it. I think that I shall be kinder to myself than anyone else will be.

After about three days of the worst chest cold that I have ever had, I was seeking relief anywhere I could find it. Being a teetotaler, a hot toddy cure did not occur to me, but it certainly did to a small gathering of my friends.

They told me that I was to mix brandy, two tablespoons of honey and the juice of a lemon to make a six-ounce toddy. What they assumed that I knew was that you added equal amounts of brandy and water to make the six ounces.

I called my husband and asked him to go get the brandy for me before he went to work at 3 that afternoon. He asked me if I was sure I knew how to mix the toddy, and I assured him I did.

When I arrived home there it was on the kitchen counter -- the brandy. Hurriedly, I squeezed the lemon juice into my cup, spooned in the honey and poured in the brandy. I added no water. The 45 seconds in the microwave seemed like an eternity. Finally, in my hands was the cure for what ailed me.

I turned the cup up and took a big gulp. I was on fire -- I couldn't breathe -- and I couldn't see. When my sight and breathing returned, I realized that my chest felt better. So, I downed the rest of that awful hot toddy.

Strangely enough, two hours later, the second hot toddy I drank tasted better than the first one. The third one wasn't bad at all. I was feeling better all the time.

As I waited for my husband to return home at 11 p.m., I prepared my fourth and last hot toddy, for I was out of brandy. That was OK -- I felt good -- really good!

When my husband returned home, I swung around the hall archway and said, "Hiiii! I feel so much better!" with great concern in his voice, he asked where the brandy bottle was. I told him that it was all gone. Over and over, he said that I couldn't have drunk it all, but I continued to assure him that I had.

Immediately, he attempted to make me drink coffee as he uttered something about alcohol poisoning and me being drunk. I thought he was being a stick-in-the-mud about me feeling better. After a great effort on his part, I drank a little coffee, and then he put me to bed.

When morning came my chest cold was better -- but my head felt like someone had used it for batting practice. I was in a state of motionlessness for the rest of the day. Every time my husband looked at me he broke into laughter. This is his favorite story about me.

Angie's Hot Toddy

juice of one lemon

2 tablespoons honey

2 ounces brandy

2 ounces water

Mix all ingredients in small saucepan and heat until steaming.

Ingredients may also be mixed in a cup and heated in microwave.

Yield: 1 serving.

Angie Holtzhouser is author of Drop Dumplin's and Pan-Fried Memories ... Along the Mississippi. Her cookbook is available at local bookstores. In addition, it can be purchased through the mail at: Drop Dumplin's, P.O. Box 10, Lilbourn, Mo. 63862. The price is $19.56, including tax and shipping.