Gourmets Eggnog Food

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.

EGGNOG

Steps:

• Bring milk just to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk together eggs and sugar in a large bowl, then add hot milk in a slow stream, whisking. Pour mixture into saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture registers 170°F on thermometer, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into cleaned large bowl and stir in cream, bourbon, brandy, and vanilla. Cool completely, uncovered, then chill, covered, until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 24.

BALTIMORE EGGNOG

Steps:

• Add all the ingredients, except the garnish, to a shaker and shake. Add ice and shake again vigorously. Strain into a wine glass and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
• Use a paring knife to cut down the center of the vanilla bean pod, being careful to cut through only the top half and not all the way through the pod. Open the pod and scrape the vanilla seeds out with the edge of your knife.
• Add the seeds, sugar, and water to a large saucepan over medium heat, but do not boil. Slowly stir until the sugar has dissolved.
• Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let the seeds steep for 15 minutes. Strain through a chinois into bottles. The syrup will keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

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.

SPECIAL GOURMET CHRISTMAS EGGNOG

Steps:

• Beat the egg yolks until they are light.
• Gradually beat in the sugar until the mixture is thick& light colored.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff.
• Pour the egg mizture into a punchbowl that is sitting in crushed ice.
• Blend in the milk and the beaten cream (the cream should not be solid just half beaten so it is thick but not stiff) Slowly pour in the bourbon& Cognac.
• Fold in the egg whites.
• Sprinkle the punch with the 2 tbsp of dark rum.