Eggnog; it’s not two words by the way
December 5, 2007 | Filed under: "Oh night divine", "The Pot Licker"
“Isn’t it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for - I don’t know what exactly, but it’s something that you don’t mind so much not having at other times.” ~Kate L. Bosher
In biology we were taught a lesson on fermentation. While my classmates were all fascinated by the possibilities of leaving a cup of juice out to make their very own Tropicana orange juice flavored alcohol, I was wholly unimpressed. For me biology meant cell reproduction and the formation of humans which put me on track towards a successful career in obstetrics and gynecology or perhaps midwifery if my mother got her way. Sadly, that line of work involved something like 17 years of schooling and homework and I am not really a sit down in a classroom type of person.. Nor am I person who enjoys thinking in absolutes, which is what following my deep-rooted passion of delivering babies would entail. This is how I ended up majoring in four social sciences, because I hated the fact that three plus three must equal six. Why can’t we think about it for a bit and maybe have several different answers that could all be correct? Why can’t everything be answered via loads of bullshit?
I didn’t like alcohol and that was ok because I had ten Judy Blume books to see me through the hard times like my lacking breast tissue and poor wardrobe. In time I made up for the former while the latter is still a little on the pathetic side. Before I go on another tangent about my cleavage vs. wardrobe issue, I’ll continue with my story about how I disliked alcohol and imagine my surprise when I learned that eggnog, the most delectable thing in the history of Holiday treats, had alcohol in it. No one identified what the alcohol in egg nog was so I spent years assuming that someone would dump a vat of Coors Light into my creamy bowl of love thereby ruining it forever with the disgusting taste of crappy beer.
Blah blah blah, I got some sense and literacy and now extol the virtues of grapes in their fermented form and I could write a book on the million and one things that alcohol could and should be added to just to make it taste a little better. I could also write a book composed of the world’s longest run-on sentences. But once again, I digress.
Alcohol, yes? I drink it but after several years of being so ill I thought I was hanging precariously to the threads of my short lived life due to hangover, I stopped drinking hard alcohol unless it’s Ketel One or Grey Goose vodka. I stick to wine for the most part and as of late, I pour a glass, take a sip and 10 minutes later I’m drooling into my flannel sheets. During college I learned the hard way about mixing several types of alcohol. All I’m saying is tread lightly. Sipping is the way to go once you combine brandy, rum and peach brandy. Hell, smell it and you’ll run to the nearest church basement for an AA meeting. But never fear because it’s chock full of deliciousness and you won’t even notice that you’ve consumed three types of alcohol and 800 calories in roughly 45 seconds.
The recipe is courtesy of Sheryl at Papernapkin and was actually intended for a tree-trimming event that I ended up missing because I was too busy trying not to physically harm drivers on the New Jersey turnpike. This vat of eggnog will be the first in several Holiday themed recipes. Feel free to thank me later and I’ll link to whomever posted the recipes first so that you know who to bill after your stint at rehab. Yields…um…several mug fulls of nutmegy goodness.
12 eggs, separated
2 cups sugar
1 pint brandy
1/2 pint light rum
1/2 pint peach brandy
3 pints whole milk
1 pint heavy cream
Nutmeg (optional)
Beat the egg yolks and sugar together until thick. Slowly stir in the brandy, rum, peach brandy, milk and cream. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled and pour into a punch bowl. Beat egg whites until stiff, and fold ever so gently into the eggnog. If you want to, grate a little nutmeg on top. If you take this to a Christmas party people will fawn over you, and you will be the hit of the party. And if not, you won’t care because you will be having a lovely lovely time all by your own self.
Suzanne says:
Yum! Our change is that it MUST have Southern Comfort. I think I need to go get a dozen eggs!
See, when I think So Co, I think So Co and lime and suddenly I’m 19 again. So I’ll need to forgo the So Co, but let me know how it is.
Amanda Brown says:
Can you believe I’ve never had real, honest to goodness, egg nog before? I know, ’tis a sad existence.
Darla says:
Nice! I’ve never tried homemade Egg Nog and your recipe looks de-light-ful.
Mrs. Flinger says:
Hummana Hummana. I will have to make this. And here’s I’ve been drinking the crap from the store. Ohdeargod.
sweetney says:
my recipe:
1. Get in car, drive to store.
2. Select eggnog carton from dairy case. Pay for it.
3. Get in car, drive home.
4. Drink eggnog directly from carton.
5. Repeat #4 as necessary.
She Likes Purple says:
Thank you! I was hoping for a good eggnog recipe.
Also, your new(ish?) camera is working out fabulously. I love the pictures here.
Katie says:
What a creative way to post your recipe and pictures! I’ve never been a fan of eggnog because it tastes too milky for me (and I hate milk!) but it sure does look fabulous in that martini glass!
Angella says:
Sweet photos!
I love the shot of the red martini glass.
**runs to the store to buy red martini glasses**
Janet says:
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!
Dagny says:
My love of eggnog died as I have aged. But that photo is making me think that perhaps I should rethink my stance.
SP says:
That does look good. Our “family drink” (sad I know) is the Whiskey Sour. Nothing like a little whiskey or some eggnog to warm you up on a winter’s night.
Missy says:
I have never had eggnog in my life. Maybe this is because I had only a vague idea that it contained alcohol. Now that that’s been confirmed…
Maria says:
Yum! This sounds good. I’ve never had homemade eggnog. My recipe is the same as Sweetney’s.
Thursday says:
I’ve never had eggnog (is this something to do with being British I wonder?) but feel compelled to give this a go. Great pictures which just blatantly encourage this.
LVGurl says:
That looks so good.
slynnro says:
I’m afraid of Eggnog. I’ve never had it. But you know what I am severely afraid of? The clamato and Budweiser in a can product I just saw at the gas station. EEEK! The idea of a Michelada in general is icky enough. But in a can? Oh no!
colleen says:
hey Heather - you commented on Sarcomical’s blog about four other people you “know” doing the Master Cleanse… are they all blogging their experiences? I’d love to hear from more people and hear how they find the experiences.. can you point me in the right directions?
thanks!
C
Here is one person, another blogger: http://kerflop.com/2007/12/06/flax-oil-isnt-as-frightening-as-i-thought-it-was/
The other two people are real life friends of mine. Hope this helps!
Aimee Greeblemonkey says:
Hubby lurves eggnog, yippie!
SchnozzFest says:
[...] yesterday and while I wrote this entry? Yeah, I was swigging eggnog (which is one word! Thanks, Heather) directly from the jug. So, you know. Take my smug self-congratulations with a grain of salt. (But [...]
No Pasa Nada » Blog Archive » Not short but sweet says:
[...] Christmas! Try the eggnog! Excuse me while I leap all of three stories to my death but what would actually be a broken [...]