American Eggnog Food

EARLY AMERICAN EGGNOG

Steps:

• Pour the brandy, sherry, rum, and whiskey into a bowl.
• Place the egg yolks and egg whites into two separate, large mixing bowls. Set the egg whites aside. Beat the egg yolks until light and frothy. Gradually beat in the sugar until the egg mixture is light colored. Slowly beat in the liquor mixture. With the mixer still running, pour in the milk and heavy cream until thoroughly blended.
• Using a clean beater, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the milk mixture. Pour into two clean, gallon-size plastic milk containers. Refrigerate at least 5 days, or 10 days for an even smoother taste. Shake the container occasionally to keep the alcohol from separating.
• To serve, pour the eggnog into a punch bowl. Whisk to blend milk mixture, add the quart of vanilla ice cream, and garnish with nutmeg.

EGGNOG

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Add the milk, cream, bourbon and nutmeg and stir to combine.
• Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Whisk the egg whites into the mixture. Chill and serve.
• Cook's Note: For cooked eggnog, follow procedure below.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks until they lighten in color. Gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until it is completely dissolved. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, over high heat, combine the milk, heavy cream and nutmeg and bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and gradually temper the hot mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Then return everything to the pot and cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F. Remove from the heat, stir in the bourbon, pour into a medium mixing bowl, and set in the refrigerator to chill.
• In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. With the mixer running gradually add the 1 tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Whisk the egg whites into the chilled mixture.

EGGNOG

Steps:

• Put 2 cups of the milk, both citrus zests, and the vanilla bean and tar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks and the 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl until lightened in color.
• Gradually pour the hot milk into the eggs while whisking constantly. Return the egg mixture to the pan and set over medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon in a figure 8 motion until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of the spoon, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in the remaining cup milk to stop the cooking. Transfer custard to a large bowl; cool to room temperature. (To speed this up, set bowl in another bowl of ice.)
• Put about 1 inch of water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Put the egg whites and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a heatproof bowl large enough to rest in the saucepan without touching the water. Set the bowl over the simmering water and beat until the sugar dissolves and the egg whites feel warm to the touch, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and beat the whites with an electric mixer until they hold a soft peak, about 3 minutes. Fold the egg whites into custard mixture. Add the rum and bourbon, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Transfer eggnog to a punch bowl or pitcher. Pour into small cups and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and citrus zest. Drink.

CLASSIC EGGNOG

Steps:

• Separate the egg yolks from the whites. In a stand mixer, beat the whites on high speed until transformed into a meringue-like consistency with soft peaks.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the milk, cream, sugar, bourbon, rum and Cognac or brandy until a smooth texture is achieved. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites until combined.
• Transfer eggnog into a large serving bowl. Chill overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• To serve, ladle a few ounces into a mug or glass and grate fresh nutmeg over the surface. For ideal flavor, mix will keep in the refrigerator up to two weeks, but can last longer.

CHEF JOHN'S HOMEMADE EGGNOG

Steps:

• Place egg yolks in a saucepan. Whisk in sugar until well blended and creamy. Add milk and cream; whisk until blended. Place pan over medium heat; whisk frequently until mixture reaches a temperature of between 170 to 180 degrees F (75 to 80 degrees C) using an instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat. Stir in nutmeg and whiskey.
• Chill pan in cold water until cool. Transfer mixture to a container (a large pitcher is ideal). Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, 2 to 3 hours.
• Place egg whites in a bowl and whisk until soft peaks form. Add sugar and continue whisking until egg whites hold a firmer peak. Whisk egg whites into custard base until thoroughly blended. Refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• Whisk eggnog again just before serving and between each pour to ensure even distribution of the egg whites which tend to float to the top. Serve with a dusting of nutmeg.

AMERICAN EGGNOG

Steps:

• Whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar for a few minutes with an electric whisk until pale, light and fluffy. Gradually whisk in the rum or bourbon a little at a time, then whisk in the milk. The mixture will separate over time, so it may need to be whisked again
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold the boozy egg mixture into the whites very gradually. Finally, whip the cream until it just holds its shape and fold that into the mixture as well.
• Sweeten to taste with extra sugar if you wish. Ladle into punch glasses and serve with a dusting of nutmeg.

CREAMY COOKED EGGNOG

Steps:

• Use a saucepan or stock pot large enough to hold 2 quarts.
• In saucepan, beat together the eggs and sugar until smooth.
• Stir in 2 cups milk.
• Cook over medium low heat, whisking or stirring frequently because as this mixture begins to get hot it will easily scorch to the bottom of the pan if you aren't careful.
• Cook until mixture is thick enough to coat a metal spoon and reaches 160° on a food thermometer.
• Remove from heat.
• Slowly add the 2 cups whipping cream or half& half while whisking together until smooth.
• Add vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and combine until incorporated.
• At this point, you may taste test (carefully- it will still be very hot) and if it doesn't seem sweet enough for your taste, add extra sugar.
• I use a total of 3/4 cup sugar because we like it sweet.
• You may also add more nutmeg at this point if you like a strong nutmeg flavor.
• Pour into a pitcher or container.
• Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled- several hours or overnight.
• Serve garnished with your choice of toppings: whipped cream, chocolate curls, maraschino cherries, cinnamon sticks or peppermint sticks.
• Brandy, rum, whiskey or flavored liqueur's may be added before serving if desired.
• This recipe makes 6 cups Egg Nog.

OLD-FASHIONED EGGNOG

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, whisk together the eggs, sugar and salt. Gradually add 1 qt. milk. Cook and stir over low heat until a thermometer reads 160°, about 25 minutes. Pour into a large bowl; stir in vanilla, nutmeg and remaining milk. Place bowl in an ice-water bath; stir frequently until cool. If mixture separates, process in a blender until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours., When ready to serve, beat cream in a bowl on high until soft peaks form; whisk gently into cooled mixture. Pour eggnog into a chilled 5-qt. punch bowl. If desired, top with dollops of whipped cream, sprinkle with additional nutmeg and serve with cinnamon sticks.

MARTHA'S CLASSIC EGGNOG

Steps:

• Beat yolks in a very large bowl until thick and pale. Slowly beat in sugar. Whisk in milk and 2 cups cream. Mix in bourbon, rum, and Cognac. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
• Just before serving, beat whites until stiff peaks form. Fold whites into eggnog. Whisk remaining 1 cup cream until stiff peaks form, and fold into eggnog. (Alternatively, you can fold half the whipped cream into eggnog, and top with remaining half.) Sprinkle with nutmeg.