Potion of the Month
by Pepper Mint
Greetings, my little snifflers and sneezers.
Yes, yes, I know. Tis the season for friends and family and gifts and peace on earth, right?
Wrong! As far as I'm concerned tis the season for flus, colds and a particularly pesky strain of pneumonia. Snow is falling, not gently, but in bucket loads. Cold winds are coming down from the arctic to freeze even those of us who reside in warmer regions. Winter has well and truly arrived. Time to stock up on the tissues and hibernate with a trash can next to your bed for the next four months, right?
Wrong again! Gosh, you guys, where's your spirit? Don’t just let winter have it's way with your nasal passages! I know your bones are aching, but hear me out. You can fight back, give winter a taste of its own medicine, and actually enjoy this season. It's true!
Want to know my secret? Of course you do.
I may utilize any number of easy-breezy potions to keep me feeling fit as a fiddle all winter long, but my main go to is the Pepperup Potion. That's right, kiddos! The same potion your mother force fed you as a child and the same potion Madam Pomfrey will force feed you until the day you graduate. Ignore all this business about Tylenol and penicillin. I know the Muggles are fond of their pills, but if you want to not only feel better but stay better, this potion is where it's at.
What's that? You say it tastes bad? Balderdash! Listen here now - if we'd been handing out merits to potions based on their tastiness rather than their effectiveness we would have all been dead centuries ago. Besides, I have a secret ingredient that will banish that bad aftertaste once and for all. You'll be begging Old Man Winter to give you one of his colds just so you can brew yourself a hot cup of Pepperup.
Please note: the amounts given for each ingredient will brew you an z serving. I've never known anyone to need a second cup of Pepperup to, well pep up, but should you find yourself with a whole household who needs a good dose of health and happiness, simply multiply my numbers by however many people you intend to feed.
Ingredients (all easily found in Diagon Alley) include:
- 10oz of clean water (none of that lake water - who knows what kind of microbes are swimming around in that stuff?)
- 1 teaspoon of grated Bicorn Powder
- 2 teaspoons of Mandrake Root, finely chopped
- 2oz (by weight) of Goosegrass
- A dash of Horklump Juice
- The yolk of 1 Rotten Egg
And my secret ingredient…
- 1 tablespoon of butterscotch extract
If you don't particularly like butterscotch, or if you're one of the very rare people who are allergic to it, you can substitute out with 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract.
You will also need:
- 1 small cauldron
- 1 small fire or heating charm
- 1 ladle
- 1 set of basic measuring spoons
- 1 teacup large enough to hold 10oz of liquid
Bring your water to a rolling boil before adding any of the ingredients. If the potion ends up turning a sour green, you've probably used some Bicorn Powder that's past its prime. Always make sure to check your expiration dates!
Add all ingredients at the same time and continue to boil for another twenty minutes. Once finished, the liquid should have a pale yellow color, much like the Muggle version of chicken noodle soup. Strain the liquid from the solids left at the bottom of your cauldron and drink! In no time you'll be feeling like your old self and ready to take on the world.
Quick note - the most common side effect of this potion is Steamy Ear syndrome (the expulsion of steam from the ear canal). While perfectly painless, I would recommend taking this potion at least a few hours before bedtime if you're able, lest you wake in the morning with soggy pillows.
Happy brewing!