Christmas Eggnog -- A Delicious Recipe for a Holiday Tradition

Eggnog as it's known in France "lait de poule" which translates literally to "hen milk."

12 egg yolks
5 cloves, whole
4 cups milk
4 cups cream
3 cups light rum
1-3/4 cups sugar
2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

In a saucepan over low heat, blend the milk, cinnamon, cloves and half a teaspoon of the vanilla essence. Keep stirring while mixture heats, and remove from heat just before boiling point.

In a bowl, mix together the sugar with all those egg yolks. Make sure you whisk them well so that they're light and fluffy. Gently and a little at a time, pour in the milk mixture while continuing to whisk.

Transfer mixture back into your saucepan over a medium heat while continuing to stir. Keep stirring until your eggnog mixture starts to resemble custard. Never let the mixture reach the boiling point.

Pour and strain the mixture into a jug, making sure to remove the cloves. Stand jug in the fridge for an hour or two. Gently stir in the cream, light rum, remaining vanilla and ground nutmeg.

Put back into the fridge overnight. Serve in cups with a little extra ground nutmeg, cinnamon or baking cocoa sprinkled lightly on top.

12 eggs, separated
6 cups milk
2 cups heavy thickened cream
2 cups bourbon
1-1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup brandy
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

In a large bowl and using a mixer, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar for about 10 minutes. Slowly add in the bourbon and brandy a little at a time. When bourbon and brandy have been added, allow the mixture to cool in the fridge for about 6 hours.

30 minutes before your guests arrive, stir the milk into the chilled yolk mixture. Stir in 1-1/2 teaspoons of ground nutmeg.

In a separate bowl, beat the cream with a mixer on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Gently fold the cream into the egg mixture.

Serve eggnog with a sprinkling of ground nutmeg.

6 cups skim milk
1 cup "Egg Beaters"
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
2 teaspoons rum extract
2 pinches of ground nutmeg
2 pinches of ground cinnamon
sweetener or sugar, to taste

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, Egg Beaters and sweetener or sugar. Stir continuously until the mixture thickens slightly; so that it can coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the vanilla essence, rum extract, one pinch of nutmeg and one pinch of cinnamon.

Remove from heat, cover and refrigerate until the eggnog has cooled; about 3 hours.

Just prior to serving, ladle eggnog into glasses and garnish with a pinch each of ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon.

This is a delicious eggnog that is ready-made. We opted to try this eggnog at Thanksgiving too and have been having it about once a week with a little spiced rum and a dash of nutmeg on top.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" --iarelative.com.