Today is Christmas Eve and everyone is busy as a bee with cleaning, baking cookies or preparing the Christmas decorations for their homes. And as always people make a huge deal about what they will put on the Christmas table. Food and booze are two important factors that help people have fun at a party and encourage bonding.
Take eggnog for example. It is very mysterious the way in which this drink became so popular but it is a sure thing that everyone considers it the perfect Christmas drink. In fact, there is no Christmas without it! But before going into the recipe maybe you should know a bit more about this special drink.
Why Should You Love Eggnog?
1. Rumor has it that the eggnog came from the medieval British ‘posset’ (milky drink). So by the time the 13th century arrived, most monks were used to combining eggs, posset and figs. They used this drink to toast for good health and prosperity.
2. But this drink became associated with the holidays in the 1700s because most American colonies based their existence on farms. Put together cows, chickens and rum and you’ve got yourself the basis for a hell of a recipe. Slowly, the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans also personalized this recipe with coconut milk. The result was just as delicious.
3. The name doesn’t have an exact origin but it is believed to come from two words: ‘grog’ (the name colonists used for thick drinks) and ‘egg.’ Combined, this ‘egg-and-grog’ came out to be ‘eggnog.’ A sort of cronut in today’s world! And the name stuck into posterity!
The oldest recipe registered comes from George Washington himself and sounds a bit like this:
‘One quart cream, one quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one pint brandy, 1/2 pint rye whiskey, 1/2 pint Jamaica rum, 1/4 pint sherry—mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.’
Now it’s true that this drink has a lot of alcohol in it but who are we to fight with the almighty Founding Father?
Below you can find 2 recipes of eggnog coming from the gods of cooking. They didn’t contribute to the foundation of the American land but they did encouraged the development of world-wide gastronomy.
1. Martha Stewart – there is no surprise that Martha puts the eggnog recipe in a new perspective. Her version is easy to prepare and heavenly delicious!
2. Jamie Oliver – the British cook declared in a recent post that his eggnog recipe is special and one of the best in the world. It is up to you if you choose to believe him or not. But you have to try it!
Which one will you try for your Christmas holidays?
Dana