E is for Eggnog

Every Christmas there is a tradition at our house. We put up the tree and I do something special for us to drink/eat and we watch a Christmas movie with the kids. This year, I decided to do Eggnog.

I haven’t done it in years, so what better time to resurrect it. I decided to try a new recipe and it did not disappoint. It was smooth and flavourful. I hope you guys give it a try this holiday.

Traditional Eggnog

You will need:

6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. In a saucepan, bring the cream, milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt to a bare simmer, stirring often. Slowly ladle in 1/2 cup or so of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking vigorously to avoid little bits of cooked egg. This will temper the eggs so they don’t scramble when cooked on the stovetop. Ladle in another 1/2 cup, whisking vigorously the entire time. Do this until all the hot milk has been added to the eggs and the mixture is well combined. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan of milk on the stove, whisking quickly, and cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it reaches a slight boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the eggnog into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Tip: I can use any percentage milk you wish, 1% or 2%, skim, whole milk and even almond milk. Start with 1 teaspoon nutmeg and see if that’s ok for you then you can add the other half if you really happen to really love nutmeg – if you think the full 1 1/2 teaspoons might be a bit overwhelming, knock it down to 1 teaspoon to start and add more after tasting, if needed. You can add more milk if it becomes too thick or is too sweet. You can add alcohol if you wish.

Eggnog Mudslide

Here’s a twist to this classic drink for the party lovers.
You will need:
1 part Kahlua
1 part vodka
2 parts eggnog
Whipped cream
Ground nutmeg

Method:

Combine Kahlua, vodka, and eggnog in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into glasses. Top with whipped cream and ground nutmeg. It’s that simple. Enjoy