Coca-Cola: A Classic in Life and Multiple Tasks

You can have your Pepsi and your generics, but I just gotta have my Coke. When I was a little girl, it came in the 16-oz glass bottles, and I'd beg my grandma for one every time she went to the grocery store. I used to sneak drinks of my mom's whenever I got a chance. And today, I can have it anytime I want.

But it's not just the nostalgia for me. Coca-Cola has been my friend through sickness and health, through dissolving things and just cleaning them. In short, Coke is a multi-purpose substance, both good to drink and handy to have available.

My Personal Medicinal Coca-Cola -- And Other Ingestion Uses

Here's my dark secret -- I can't drink Coke straight. Sorry, you purists; I have to have it watered down, especially when I'm sick. Ice is usually good enough, but sometimes I have to add water as well. To keep the fizz, you pour water in first, then slowly pour your chilled Coke into it. I also love it frozen, the can stuck in the freezer until it's just cold enough to freeze a droplet of water on the outside. Open carefully over the sink, and you have a Coke slush.

My husband thinks I'm crazy. But the truth is, something in Coca-Cola is infinitely settling to my stomach when I feel sick. Since I've been pregnant, I'm drinking a watered-down Coke every day - just one is enough. And when I'm dehydrated, it's a sure way of getting liquids in me even when nothing else stays down. Doctors all over the world use it as a digestive remedy as well, particularly in poorer countries where medicine is not readily available -- so I am not nuts!

External Uses

It's well-documented that there are dozens of external uses for Coca-Cola. Some of my favorites:

Cooking: Coca-Cola makes a great base for marinades, especially marinades that use pineapple. Use full-strength and let meat soak overnight for the tenderest results.

It's also great for reheating leftover barbeque meats; simply put in pan with a little Coke, cover, and heat in the oven. The sweet, slightly citrus flavor of Coke adds a tasty zest to meats, and the acids penetrate and tenderize. Yum!

Cleaning: Poured into a burnt pan and left to sit, it dissolves the residue so it can be scrubbed clean.