You know those cold winter days where your goosebumps just don’t go away and you can’t warm up to save your life. That’s pretty cold.

And then there is Ukraine-in-the-middle-of-winter cold where the goosebumps seem bigger and the feeling of warmth just seems to be getting further and further away from your reality.

I was 21 years old when I moved to Ukraine in January 2006. I arrived jet lagged, sick, exhausted, and completely unprepared for how cold I was about to be.

By the time I finally made it to my apartment, all I wanted was to get inside, get warm, and sleep. And when I opened the apartment door it was seriously as cold inside as it was outside. 

Oh amazing…

I dropped my suitcases, climbed into bed in my clothes, pulled the blankets over myself, and cried. And I don’t mean shed a few tears, I was literally and utterly weeping.

I was sick. I was so exhausted. I was freezing. I was in a completely unfamiliar country. And I remember lying there terrified  thinking, What have I done?

And then my tears started freezing on my face.

This should have been my first indication that perhaps I had underestimated Ukrainian winter.

And the next morning when  I woke up and went to take my earrings out.

They wouldn’t come out.

At first I couldn’t figure out what was happening, until I realized my earrings had literally frozen into my earlobes.

I had slept in them all night in an apartment so cold that I couldn’t remove them the next morning.

I eventually had to stand at the sink and run hot water over my ears until everything thawed enough for me to get them out. Unreal.

There are glamorous stories from your early twenties.

This is definitely not one of mine.

But even now, twenty years later, I can remember exactly what that kind of cold felt like.

And WHAT I WOULD  HAVE GIVEN for something hot to drink.

Which brings us to this.

Cranberry Rosemary Toddy

This is exactly the kind of drink I want when it’s freezing outside: warm, tart cranberry, a little sweetness, rosemary, and a mug you can wrap both hands around.

It also happens to be picture perfect.

It’s a great one to make for a holiday party, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just a freezing night to help warm yourself up!

And unlike 21-year-old me in Ukraine, hopefully you have the heat to help.

Cranberry Rosemary Toddy Recipe

A Few Things

Make a batch.
If you’re serving this to a crowd, this is one I’d absolutely make in a larger batch and keep warm.

Don’t overdo the rosemary.
You want it to smell and taste subtly woodsy, not like you’re drinking a Christmas tree.

Make it pretty.
Fresh cranberries and a little sprig of rosemary instantly make this look like you tried extremely hard.

Serve it HOT.
This is not the moment for lukewarm. We are healing 21-year-old Abi.

Make It a Winter Night

Cranberry Rosemary Toddy + fuzzy socks + absolutely nowhere you need to go.

And if you happen to be moving to Ukraine in January?

Take your earrings out before bed.

Trust me.