Festive Entertaining & My Egg Nog Recipe
It’s been a few years since we have been able to do any entertaining over the holiday period. So this year, we were really trying to make the most of that.
Sometimes, we can get so caught up in waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect opportunity, and the perfect setting to put our money where our mouths are and do that thing that we have been saying that we will do for ages.
… For me, that was having people over and throwing a little dinner party.
So this year, I threw an impromptu dinner party with two of my friends and Paul. I had a few festive bits in the fridge that I had picked up… But I really tried to perk the setting up with candles, place cards, & a centerpiece.
I covered how I did it all in one of my recent YouTube videos. Which you can watch it here.
However, the main star of the show? My Egg Nog!
Egg nog in North America is quite different from Egg nog in the UK… Primarily because you cannot find it in every supermarket, and therefore you need to make it.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t like the cheap carton stuff from home… But, I love it so much that I had a carton of it when I was back in Canada in October. Just a few months early of Christmas.
Nonetheless, making Egg nog from scratch here in the UK has been a bit of a blessing, because… If I could find Egg nog here, I would have never made it for myself… And that truly would be a shame.
As making it from scratch is insanely tasty, too!
Here is the recipe:
The base of eggnog is made by mixing egg yolks and sugar together until they are light and fluffy. Then you slowly whisk in hot milk that has been flavoured with cloves and cinnamon. This warms up the eggs so they don't curdle.
The last step is to heat the eggnog on the stove until it gets thicker. It's a lot like custard.
For traditional eggnog, you also beat some egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Then, you fold the egg whites into the eggnog mixture, which makes it light and fluffy.
The egg whites are not cooked, and because of the risk of salmonella, some people avoid eating raw eggs these days. Using pasteurised eggs is one way to get around this if you want to add beaten egg whites.
I also just heated the mixture (eggnog base with beaten egg whites added) until it reached 160°F and then let it chill again. If you don't want to eat raw eggs, that works too.
THE BEST ALCOHOL TO PUT IN EGGNOG?
Pick the one you like best! These are all great:
Bourbon or whiskey Rum Brandy
For this recipe, we suggest mixing them together, but you can also just use one.
Save your expensive liquor for sipping on its own; a cheaper liquor in the middle is perfect. Avoid really cheap liquors, though, because their harsh flavours can ruin a drink.
WHEN TO PUT THE ALCOHOL IN?
You can put the alcohol in the whole pot or just in your own glass. There is no set amount, so we suggest adding a little, tasting it, then adding a little more and tasting it again. You can't go wrong!
Do you have to add alcohol?
Not even close! Eggnog is good with or without alcohol.
IS EGGNOG SERVED HOT OR COLD?
Eggnog is usually served at parties as a punch, so it is usually cold or at room temperature. But eggnog that has been warmed is also a tasty treat.
In this situation, we say, "Each to their own!" Enjoy your eggnog however you like it.
HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP EGGNOG?
Eggnog can be kept in the fridge for a few days, especially if you've already added liquor (which acts as a preservative). Eggnog also tends to get better with time. It gets thicker and silkier, and the flavours blend together more.
TRADITIONAL EGGNOG
PREP TIME: 5 mins
TIME TO COOK: 20 minutes
CHILLING: 60 mins
TIME IN TOTAL: 85 minutes
Serves between 4 and 6
If you want the eggnog to be less rich, cut the number of egg yolks from 6 to 4. Use 1/2 cup sugar if you would like it less sweet. We use milk with 2 percent fat, but you can use any milk you have.
You can leave out the bourbon and rum to make eggnog that kids will like.
This is an easy recipe to double.
Ingredients:
6 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk
2 cloves, whole
Pinch some cinnamon
1 cup of thick cream
1 teaspoon of nutmeg that was just grated (lightly packed)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons bourbon, or as much as you like
2 tablespoons of rum, or to taste
4 egg whites (optional)
The evening was a success, the Egg nog was a hit ( apparently quite comparable to a snow ball ). And our guests were sent home with a bottle so they could enjoy at home, as we like a lot of whiskey in our Egg nog.
Have you ever tried egg nog? Do you like it, or could you pass?
