Eggnog

Most of my life I found the idea of eggnog to be disgusting until I tried real homemade eggnog. (Awkward sentence coming...) My daughter's friend Audrey's mom, Lee used to host this super fancy holiday dinner party every year- by far the fanciest sort of thing we had ever attended. She looked glamorous like a film star and the first thing she put in your hand upon entering was a glass of delicious, and as we subsequently found out, strong!!! eggnog. It's nothing like that stuff that comes out of a carton.

 

I now make it every year in homage to Lee; this year it took me two tries: the first was Scrambled Egg Nog which nobody likes. I, of course, am blameless in this debacle; Saveur said to whisk the custard until "very thick" which is not possible and ends in a combination of sorrow and scrambled eggs. Now I ignore that prompt and simply adhere to the time direction. I like to serve additional bourbon on the side because.... well, because I like bourbon. You can also make this with rum if you prefer.

1 cup bourbon (or rum)

4 T brandy

1/2 cup sugar

6 egg yolks (whites reserved)

Whisk these four ingredients in a bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water whisking constantly for 3 minutes. Set aside to cool in the refrigerator.

6 egg whites

2 T sugar 

1/8 t ground nutmeg

1/2 t cinnamon (optional)

Whip in a large bowl until soft peaks form.

3/4 cup heavy cream whipped to soft peaks

Fold whipped cream and cooled egg mixture into the egg whites. Then stir in 1 cup milk. Ladle into mugs and serve with additional bourbon and garnish with some freshly grated nutmeg.