Frozen Brandied Eggnog Food

EGGNOG

Steps:

• For the eggnog: Heat the milk and cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat until warm.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar until light, fluffy and pale in color.
• Temper the egg yolks by adding a couple ladles of the warm milk/cream mixture into the egg mixture while whisking constantly. Add the mixture back to the pot over medium heat. Continue to cook, gently stirring, until thick, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a separate container and chill for at least 1 hour, then stir in the nutmeg.
• For the cocktail: When ready to serve, add the maple syrup and crushed gingersnaps to separate small plates. Run the rim of each martini glass in the maple syrup, then dip the rim in the crushed gingersnaps.
• For each drink, pour 3/4 cup of the eggnog into a cocktail shaker with ice and add 2 ounces of the bourbon. Shake vigorously, then pour into the prepared glass. Sprinkle over a little nutmeg and serve.

BRANDIED EGGNOG

Steps:

• In blender, combine ice cream, brandy, milk, Grand Marnier, if desired, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg and blend until mixture is smooth and frothy.
• Pour into 4 glasses and sprinkle with remaining nutmeg.

FROZEN EGGNOG

Steps:

• Pour about 2/3 of the container of eggnog in a shallow glass dish, cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer. When it is frozen, it will be sort of a like sherbert. Scoop half of this frozen eggnog into a blender pitcher.
• Add liquors and blend. Then add enough of the unfrozen eggnog until you get a nice smooth slushy texture. If you want it stronger, add more liquor and less of the unfrozen eggnog.
• I like to top mine with whipped cream and sprinkle with a cinnamon/sugar mixture.
• For a non alcoholic version, replace liquor with more unfrozen eggnog. Also, you may wish to thin it out with milk or cream. Freezing lowered the intensity of flavor, so when I added the cream, I needed to also add a little sugar and a little nutmeg.
• Unused frozen eggnog can be transferred to a freezer dish and kept in the freezer for a quickie drink anytime. Yummy!

EGGNOG

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat., Stir a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon., Transfer to a large bowl; cool quickly by placing bowl in ice water and stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in the brandy, rum, bourbon and vanilla. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Just before serving, stir in cream and nutmeg.

HOLIDAY BRANDY ALEXANDER

Steps:

• Pour the brandy, creme de cacao and eggnog into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.
• Shake well, and strain into a cocktail glass.
• Garnish with grated nutmeg, and serve.

BRANDIED EGGNOG PUNCH

Steps:

• Beat egg yolks and sugar in mixer bowl on high speed until pale and light. Reduce speed and gradually mix in Cognac, milk, cream, and vanilla.
• Beat egg whites in clean mixer bowl with clean beaters until stiff but not dry, then gently fold into egg yolk mixture with rubber spatula. Pour into punch bowl. Refrigerate until cold.
• To serve, ladle punch into glasses and sprinkle with grated nutmeg.