The Ultimate Eggnog Food

AMAZINGLY GOOD EGGNOG

Steps:

• Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
• In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about 1 hour.
• Stir in rum, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate for 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.

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.

SCRATCH EGGNOG WAFFLES

Steps:

• Plug in an electric waffle iron to heat.
• Make whipped cream: Beat whipping cream, vanilla extract, cream of tartar and a pinch of salt until you have fairly stiff peaks. Refrigerate the whipped cream.
• Make waffles: Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add the oil and eggs then slowly whisk in the eggnog, starting with about a half cup. The ultimate amount of eggnog required will depend on the characteristics of your flour, the humidity and temperature. Add eggnog and whisk until the mixture is the consistency of heavy whipping cream.
• Cook the waffles according your griddle's instructions. Serve each with a dollop of whipped cream with a candy cane on top. Dust with powdered sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon or mace as desired. Serve with warmed syrup of choice. (Peppermint infused maple syrup might be nice if not 'over the top'!).

ULTIMATE ONE-CUP-ONLY EGGNOG

Steps:

• Beat egg yolks and sugar together in a large bowl until pale yellow; stir in cream, rum, cognac, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.