Yes I have. Pour into clean, sterile, room-temp, plastic soda bottles. Lie on sides in a plastic container. Rotate bottles 180 degrees daily to stir up the wild yeasts that have settled on the bottom. Squeeze the bottles to determine how pressurized they are, when rock hard, they are almost ready, refrigerate one bottle and once cold, squeeze to see if still hard, possibly open to see if carbonated. I do a gallon at a time, 10-12 bottles per batch. Takes from 1 to 3 weeks depending on temperature. Feel brave? Place them in your yard, in the summer sun, and you may get surprised. LOL

Snookums, quinoa is a grain. Granted a grain with high protein which makes it more valuable in some lifestyles compared to others. I think it's neither bad nor good. As far as carbs go, it's on the healthier side, but it can make blood sugars rise too fast in those who have issues with moderate glycemic foods. Maybe that is why you woke up starving? As for the quinoa tasting bland... I never toast it, but then I never toasted rice or couscous either. I'm just not that patient :) however I always toast my spices and then cook my dishes. I think it really pays off in my quinoa dishes which are just studded with all the spices. I also tend to layer my spices, for example we might do a black bean mango quinoa salad... So I flavor the black beans with cumin chili powder, I toss the chopped veggies with lime juice, and I season the quino with toasted Mexican oregano, smoked paprika, coriander and cumin, and a smidgen of tomato paste. Then I top with avocado and and a bit of fresh mango pico. If you are not supersensitive to moderate glycemic foods then give the quinoa another try. Green goos take a while to master. You'll find your perfect recipe in time. It took me forever to get a good ration of chia seeds in ours.

I love hot buttered rum. This is a basic recipe from Emeril: Ingredients * 1 stick unsalted butter, softened * 2 cups light brown sugar * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg * Pinch ground cloves * Pinch salt * Bottle dark rum * Boiling water Directions In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Refrigerate until almost firm. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture into 12 small mugs. Pour about 3 ounces of rum into each mug (filling about halfway). Top with boiling water (to fill the remaining half), stir well, and serve immediately. Mulled wine is also a good warming drink. This recipe looks right from About.com. I'd use whole allspice rather than ginger. When winter weather swirls in, nothing could be cozier than a toasty mug of mulled wine. Mulled wine, the vineâÂÂs version of a classic hot toddy, is a traditional holiday treat in many Old World countries. Mulled wines have been warming people for centuries, they are wines that have been sweetened, spiced and slightly heated - offering a delightful alternative to traditional coffees, ciders and toddyâÂÂs at holiday gatherings or just on a cold winter's night. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: * One bottle (750 mL) of red wine (suggestions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot) * One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot) * 1/4 cup of brandy * 8-10 cloves * 2/3 cup honey or sugar * 3 cinnamon sticks * 1 tsp fresh or 2 tsp ground ginger (allspice can be substituted) * Serves 4-6 Preparation: To make the perfect cup of mulled wine, combine all ingredients in either a large pot or a slow cooker. Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (avoid boiling), for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that the honey or sugar has completely dissolved. When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have been well blended it is ready to serve. Ladle the mulled wine into mugs (leave seasonings behind) and enjoy! This link looks like it has lots of ideas. Off to read... Here is a link that might be useful: Festive drinks.

I can't eat after I've been sweating unless it's guacamole and chips. :) Trail, you make a good point about sugar. It plays a big part in helping hydrate our bodies. Taken from the internet and I've read this many times, "The specific amount of sugar and electrolytes in sports drinks is intended to allow for quick hydration and absorption. This type of nutrient depletion generally occurs only with high-intensity exercise that lasts an hour or more." DS2 has been working out like this for 20 years and I think since he's now living in Florida his body is trying to tell him something, if that's the reason. Honey is also good if you make a homemade drink. Water, tea, seltzer, etc. is all fine for minor dehydration, but not for extreme workouts or anything that causes a lot of sweat for a long period of time. Sweating constantly for an hour is losing a lot of liquid. I've sure learned a lot on this topic.