Obviously, this big reveal won't look like much besides a mug of water, but if you could smell and taste this tea through the computer, you'd be impressed! Here's why we love this tea: Ginger is said to sooth a tummy ache and help detox the body Lemon is great for the immune system Honey supposedly soothes a sore throat and eases a cough better than cough medicine (we'll leave this up to you to decide-- we're not doctors!) Local honey is said to help reduce seasonal allergies because local allergens are found in the honey. However, we've heard you need to eat it daily quite a bit in advance…

  This recipe is very simple, but you'll appreciate the ease when you're brewing it up on a day when you're feeling less than your best! Boil water. Peel the exterior off a section of the ginger root and cut about 1/2 inch to 1 inch off. Put those in the mug. Squeeze the juice from 1/2 a lemon into the mug (or more, if you want!). Fill the mug with boiling water, stir well, gently pressing the pieces of ginger to get the juice out. Stir in honey and enjoy! Meet us back here this evening for the big reveal.

  This time of year, colds and the winter blues are a dime a dozen. Instead of always popping medicine to feel better, we like to brew a super simple all-natural tea. We can't guarantee that this will cure your cold or flu, but at the very least it's a warm, comforting cup of deliciousness.  What you'll need: 1/2 inch- 1 inch of fresh ginger root, peeled Juice from 1/2 a lemon 1/2 tbls-1 tbls of honey (We used local honey because it's supposed to help with local allergies!) Boiling water (optional) milk or sweetener  Meet us back here tomorrow morning for the steps!

  If you want some variety, here are a few ideas: Make this dairy-free by using almond, soy or Lactaid milk Stir in some cinnamon  Add a few peppermint sticks to your mug Drizzle chocolate syrup over the whipped cream Stir in some real hot chocolate mix to up the chocolate factor Make this an adult drink by mixing in a little booze  Chill it and have it cold-- like chocolate milk, only better Enjoy!

  (Multiply these ingredients as necessary-- if you want, you could make a large batch and enjoy it throughout the snow weekend). In a saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of milk on a low heat.  Stir in 1-3 tablespoons of Nutella, depending on how much you want in your hot chocolate. When the Nutella starts to dissolve, use a whisk to continuously mix the milk and Nutella for a few minutes. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of milk into the saucepan and continue stirring. Add vanilla extract and stir. (Optional) Using a frother, froth the hot chocolate while it continues to heat in the pan. Keep stirring until …

  We've heard rumors that Nutella could be melted down for hot chocolate, but it wasn't until we did some experimenting that we realized it was not only true-- but also delicious! This recipe is perfect for this weekend's snow storm. Whether you sip this by the fire or down it after shoveling all afternoon, you'll be sure to love it! Here's what you'll need for one mug-full: 1 cup of milk (1/2 at the beginning of the recipe, 1/2 at the end) 1-3 tablespoons of Nutella (depends on your preference and love of Nutella!) 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract  Whipped cream Chocolate chip or chocolate …

  After your bread cools for 15-20 minutes, flip it out of the pan and onto a wire rack to continue cooling. You can freeze it or enjoy it right away-- we suggest enjoy it with butter or cream cheese spread over the top. Makes a great breakfast, snack or even dessert! Enjoy!

  Start by preheating your oven to 350 and greasing a bread pan. In one bowl, combine the following dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and baking soda. In another bowl, mix the egg, egg white, sugar, oil, vanilla and yogurt. Blend together, then add the bananas and mix. Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix. Be careful not to overmix-- once the ingredients are combined, you can stop. If you're adding any extra goodies to your bread (like chocolate chips, walnuts, or dried fruit, add it now and mix again). Pour the batter into the bread pan and bake for 55-65 minutes (check that the bread…

  Banana bread (and all bread, really) is a perfect comfort food during the cold winter months. Banana bread was one of the first things I learned to bake, and early on I learned that adding plain yogurt or sour cream to the bread batter makes the moistest, most delicious bread. It keeps fresh for days and you can even pop it into the freezer to keep it fresher longer. Here's what you'll need: 1 1/4 cup flour (make it healthier by subbing 1/2 a cup of the white flour for whole wheat flour) 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup of sugar (we used organic!) 1 large egg 1 egg white A …

  Some ideas for variety: Add meat of your choice to the barley and veggies Use zucchini, red peppers or other vegetables  Try quinoa, cous cous, or white rice instead of barley Mix a marinade into the barley for added taste Add pine nuts or chopped walnuts  Enjoy!

  Combine water, broth and barley and bring to a boil. Follow cooking instructions on package. While the barley is cooking, steam the spinach. Slice the onion and pepper, and cut the mushrooms into small pieces if necessary. Place the onion, pepper and mushrooms into a pan with olive oil and sautee until soft. Add the beans. Turn the heat to a low simmer after a few minutes and add seasonings. Once the barley is done, combine with the vegetables and serve. Meet us back here this evening for the big reveal!

  When our friend Carlye shared her delicious barley and beans recipe with us recently, we knew it needed to be showcased in our column. The recipe is meat-free, but can easily be modified with some chicken, sausage, or ground turkey. You'll need: 1 cup of water 1 cup of broth (we used chicken, but you can use vegetarian or other) 1/2 cup pearl barley 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil 8 ounces of spinach 1 onion 1 green bell pepper 1 package of sliced mushrooms 1 can of black beans, drained Seasonings (we used cumin, black pepper, and basil) Meet us back here tomorrow morning to cook!

Some ideas for variety: Add cranberry cocktail  Use orange/pineapple juice Float a variety of frozen berries in the punch, like blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries Serve in festive cups with a little umbrella-- it's a little taste of summer in the winter! Keep it alcohol-free, or substitute the rum for vodka or tequila Mix with red wine to make a tasty sangria Get creative! This party punch is versatile. Enjoy, and have a happy new year!

  In a large bowl, combine the orange juice and lemonade and stir togther.  Next add the ginger ale and cherries, stir again. Slice the orange into rounds and float on the top of the punch mixture. Cover and chill for 45 minutes to an hour. When you're ready to serve, stir the punch again and add anywhere from a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of rum, if you're serving to adults.  Meet us back here this afternoon for the big reveal and some ideas for some punch variety!

  This punch recipe is perfect for a New Year's night in with the family or for a fancy cocktail party. It can easily be made alcohol-free or spiked for the adult-only party you might be planning. Either way, it's easy to make and you might have some of the ingredients already! You'll need: 6 cups of Lemonade (we used Del's in the carton) 1.5 cups of orange juice 1/3 cup of maraschino cherries (plus juice) 3/4 bottle of ginger ale (use diet to save some calories if you want!) 1 large orange sliced into rounds Rum (optional) Meet us back here tomorrow morning to put it all together!

  Our cheesecake needs to set overnight, so we don't have a photo of the finished product, but here's what you'll want to do after your dessert has chilled for 24 hours.  Remove the plastic wrap and take the cheesecake out of the spring form pan. Open the cherry pie filling and either pour it on the top of the cheesecake, or pour it into a bowl so each piece can individually be topped with the cherries. Your choice. No baking required!  Enjoy and happy holidays!

  Leave the cream cheese out to soften.  Combine both packages of cream cheese in a mixing bowl with the sugar. Whip. Add vanilla extract and blend well. In another bowl, whip the cream until it is the consistency of frosting. Fold the cream into the cream cheese mixture. Cover the bottom of a spring form pan with wax paper. Line the sides of the pan with lady fingers, then line the bottom as well. Put half the mixture into the pan. Put another layer of lady fingers on top of that. Pour the remaining mixture on top. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 24 hours. Meet us back …

  This cheesecake is a holiday tradition with my family. And the best part is that it's fast, easy and really tasty. Make it 24 hours before you'll want to serve it so it has plenty of time set! Here's what you'll need: 1 pint whipping cream 3 packages of lady fingers 2 8-ounce pacakges of cream cheese 1 cup of sugar 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract Cherry pie filling Meet us back here tomorrow morning to put it all together! 

  We used dairy and lactose free eggnog, but you can use any kind that tickles your fancy. We're also fans of adding peppermint mocha creamer (dairy-free, of course) to our coffee in place of the pricer coffeehouse version. We can't tell the difference, especially once we make the top nice and frothy!  If all else fails and you need a no-brainer way to dress up your morning coffee for the holidays, try this little trick we love: add hot cocoa mix to your coffee grounds before brewing. Yum! Enjoy!

  Begin by preparing your coffee. We ground the beans and brewed it in the coffeemaker.  Fill half a mug with coffee. Fill the rest with eggnog (lactose and dairy-free, or regular depending on your preferences). Add a little sweetener or sugar to taste (optional). Using your frother, pulse the liquid especially towards the top of the mug. The idea is to create that great coffeehouse froth effect. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and nutmeg on top and enjoy! Meet us back here tomorrow for the big reveal!