Your favorite recovery placebo

I'm with you on the protein within an hour of the hard work out, and sleep factor. I also do ice baths after long runs or brutal rides. I have a jetted tub though that I will do several soaks in a week as well, and it is wonderful!

+1 on a protein drink and sleep. Stretching and a warm shower aswell.

+1 protein drink I also like a post work drink with ammonia acids and electrolytes (xtend by scivation) is my choice. I also use compression calf sleeves.
Ice bath or hot shower at times

Beer. Good meal. Stay off my feet as much as possible. Listen to some good music. That's about it. If the workouts are right and you aren't silly, the recovery will happen.

Beers while in hot tub.

Ice cold chocolate milk, ice baths, and compression sleeves, and some stretching.

*Beer and/or Vietnamese coffee, not at the same time but sometimes not separated by much!
*Nice satisfying meal with plenty of protein. It's usually brunch since I pile up hard workouts on weekends due to work and pool schedules. If no time for a full-on meal, then peanut butter and banana on toasted whole wheat bread, with Vietnamese coffee
*Swim an easy 500-1000m if I can after a hard run or ride.
*Put feet up if possible. Nap after a really long ride or brick.
*If I have to go to work right after a hard workout (on feet much of day), or it's bedtime, compression shorts. Sometimes tights after a race if I can get the air-con really cold.

When I'm healthy I recover pretty quickly---always have. I think I just don't go fast enough to build up much lactic acid, or something. I rarely get sore, just tired, unless I do something I don't often do, like mountain climbing, kayaking, or power yoga.

Buttermilk and compression stockings for several (8-12) hours

Protein, compression socks (after running only), a few quick yoga poses, and then a good beer (preferably a porter, IPA, or if I'm lucky a scotch ale)

You did state "placebo", so I don't know what fake recovery method I have used. Chocolate milk and an ice bath helps after those long workouts, along with rest.

I hadn't heard of drinking ammonia acids for recovery yet

Drinking beer while floating in the pool.