Dry January is almost over. I need some recipes to help keep it going!

I love the rituals of making and sharing drinks: tea, coffee, cocktails, sodas, cider, beer, fresh juices, kombucha, chai... so many recipes, and such a fun side of the kitchen! Since the new year these have all been non-alcoholic for me, though not necessarily so for guests. The change has come with enough of a bonus that I want to keep it going a little longer, however; one thing i have realized i am missing is the end-of-the-day pain relief function of an alcoholic drink. This is tricky territory! There has to be at least some mild pain relieving ingredient/function, but it’s really the psycho-somatic “feeling good again” anticipation caused by the ritual that I’m after. Much like how the sugary coating of an Advil sometimes makes you feel instantly better. Incidentally, super spicy food has this function for me as well.  

I’d like to hear about your drink-centric end-of-the-day recipes or rituals that help you get over it all. Bonus, if it helps you deal with the combination of aging and a physically demanding life!

Cheers!

Hot chocolate?  I like mine with plenty of cream.  I find a hot drink in general very soothing in the evening.  A fruit smoothie goes down well too (also lots of cream for me).

I've been "dry" since last July as I'm pregnant, and it's getting difficult!  Not that I'm much of a drinker in general, but I make my own (hard) cider--didn't make any this autumn as I won't even start drinking the previous batch until around mid-March.  My husband was given a bottle of Pinot Noir this week and asked if we should crack if open for dinner today--"you're allowed a very small glass, honey"--no way I'm letting him drink a full bottle of wine while I'm salivating in front of him!  And then our nine year old son chimed in, "if the baby can drink wine, then I can have some too!"  Uh no.  No wine for babies or children in this house.

G Freden wrote:Hot chocolate?  I like mine with plenty of cream.  I find a hot drink in general very soothing in the evening.  A fruit smoothie goes down well too (also lots of cream for me).

Mexican hot chocolate if the spicy factor is wanted!

Your nine year old sounds hilarious.  

For the best psycho-somatic “feeling good again" sensation NOTHING beats water kefir grains drinks. Even though it has no alcohol, you would swear it has 15% alcohol.

Ginger (this is what gives it the kick and make you think it has 15% alcohol in it)
Water Kefir Grains (these are the clear/translucent, firm grains not the white, squishy/slimy milk kefir grains)
Dark Sugar/Molasses/etc
Now add the fruit juice/tea/herbs/bitters/etc that you like.

Spicy hot chocolate sounds great today! I’ve never heard of water kiefer — time for some research!
Mostly, I’ve been making herbal citrusy drinks with some combination of ginger, turmeric, ginseng, black pepper, and bitters. Yesterday, I got the juicer out and processed a pile of ginger and a grocery store pineapple into a small mason jar’s worth of liquid gold. This goes into the refrigerator, and is served with soda water, ice, and a garnish like a proper cocktail. This is nice, but I’d like to get a little more mileage out of the ginger — a big pile makes surprisingly little juice! Maybe I’ll try something in the pressure cooker, or make a tincture then cook off the alcohol?
Thanks!

The more I learn about health and wellness, the more things I have to give up (though I still wouldn't say no to that bottle of Pinot Noir).  

Lately I've been filling my large UK pint glass (20 fluid oz) with just tap water, five ice cubes and a wedge of lemon or lime.  I drink it with a straw and it's like drinking a cocktail.  So simple yet I find it so pleasurable.

Another option which I've gotten into recently is beef tea.  It's like bone broth/stock, but made with meat rather than bones.  In the morning I put some stewing beef in my slow cooker, covered with water (optional onion/garlic/herbs/etc), and let it go all day.  The meat is eaten separately for dinner, such as added last minute to stir fried vegetables and the remaining liquid is delicious in a mug with salt and pepper.  I save it in the fridge for reheating throughout the week;  it also doubles as stock if the need arises.