Eggnog - is it worth it?

[Gingersnap]

Philly made a comment in another thread which ties in with a discussion Mr. Snaps and I had this morning about eggnog.

He noted that I hadn't made any. I noted that the grocery store was on the way. This inspired a general critique of store-bought eggnog (negative) and a grudging admission that no one would really miss it.

What are your views on eggnog? I like it well enough if it's homemade (and spiked) but I won't touch the store stuff. Clearly, I don't like it so much that I made any this year.

Do you like it? Do you like the store kind? Have you made it from scratch before? Are you having it this year?

[phillygirl]

I've never made it. I've tried the store stuff, and it's "fine". It's not really a drink that I get into. And the calories are atrocious!

[Celeste Chalfonte]

Philly made a comment in another thread which ties in with a discussion Mr. Snaps and I had this morning about eggnog.

He noted that I hadn't made any. I noted that the grocery store was on the way. This inspired a general critique of store-bought eggnog (negative) and a grudging admission that no one would really miss it.

What are your views on eggnog? I like it well enough if it's homemade (and spiked) but I won't touch the store stuff. Clearly, I don't like it so much that I made any this year.

Do you like it? Do you like the store kind? Have you made it from scratch before? Are you having it this year?

I LOVE Publix Light Eggnog. All the flavor of regular eggnog and fewer calories (still a lot). We had pretty good eggnog last year from Nob Hill Grocery (Raley's). Safeway's house eggnog sucks. I would never make homemade any more than I would try to make homemade mayonnaise or mustard, or brew my own beer. Too lazy.

[daveman]

The only homemade eggnog I've ever had was spiked, and I hate rum, so it tasted like paint thinner to me.

I get the store-boughten kind, and put it in coffee. Yum!

[Celeste Chalfonte]

The only homemade eggnog I've ever had was spiked, and I hate rum, so it tasted like paint thinner to me.

I get the store-boughten kind, and put it in coffee. Yum!

Oh, yeah! Good coffee.

[Adam]

I LOVE Publix Light Eggnog. All the flavor of regular eggnog and fewer calories (still a lot). We had pretty good eggnog last year from Nob Hill Grocery (Raley's). Safeway's house eggnog sucks. I would never make homemade any more than I would try to make homemade mayonnaise or mustard, or brew my own beer. Too lazy.

Guilty as charged, although actual homemade mayonnaise is a spoiling delight that will make you forever foreswear Hellmann's and that other abomination upon this earth, Miracle Whip.

Brew your own beer at your own risk. Can be great, but like a soufflé, you will go through several disasters along the way. Beer-brewing is not an activity so much as it is a hobby or one's efforts to learn a musical instrument: something for which one continually pursues a better performance.

The only homemade eggnog I've ever had was spiked, and I hate rum, so it tasted like paint thinner to me.

I get the store-boughten kind, and put it in coffee. Yum!

In proper American egg nog the nog is bourbon. Typically, the Brits make it with sherry. But lots of people (including folks who just make the stuff to sell at the liquor store) will put pretty much any high-octane booze in there. And to be fair, there aren't exactly any rules about this sort of stuff.

As Celeste pointed out, egg nog is packed with a shitload of calories. This was traditionally served to people who hiked miles in the cold and sang carols for money. Made sense to give people a cup full of 2000 calories when they were going to burn that off trundling through the snow to the next house. Hardly subdivision stuff.



But I do love it!

[scott]

Eggnog is great when it's at the office or the bank and I've got my flask of bourbon on me.

[Michele]

I love eggnog! We have a family recipe that we make once a year usually at Christmas but for the last few years we've had it on New Year's Eve. We have it for dessert and yes, it is calorie laden and yes, it takes a bit to make but come on..it's only once a year! If you all were here I'd make sure you had a cup. And yes, there is a bowl and cups just for eggnog.

Eggnog

Serves 25

12 large eggs - separated
1 1/2 cups of baking sugar
2 qts half and half
1 qt heavy whipping cream
1 cup bourbon
1 cup light rum
1 cup cognac
1 cup vodka
Freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Beat the egg yolks in a very large bowl (I use my metal salad mixing bowl) until thick and pale yellow. Gradually add sugar to yolks. Whisk in half and half. Add all 4 alcohols, stirring constantly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Just before serving, beat egg whites until stiff. Whip the heavy cream until peaks form, gradually adding the confectioners sugar. Fold beaten egg whites into whipped cream. Mix half into the eggnog. Using a rounded ice cream scoop, float the remaining mixture on top of the eggnog and sprinkle with nutmeg. Serve in chilled cups or glasses.

*You can make it without the liquor and it's still delicious.

[Michele]

Philly made a comment in another thread which ties in with a discussion Mr. Snaps and I had this morning about eggnog.

He noted that I hadn't made any. I noted that the grocery store was on the way. This inspired a general critique of store-bought eggnog (negative) and a grudging admission that no one would really miss it.

What are your views on eggnog? I like it well enough if it's homemade (and spiked) but I won't touch the store stuff. Clearly, I don't like it so much that I made any this year.

Do you like it? Do you like the store kind? Have you made it from scratch before? Are you having it this year?

To me, the store bought eggnog has an aftertaste that I don't care for.

[daveman]

In proper American egg nog the nog is bourbon. Typically, the Brits make it with sherry. But lots of people (including folks who just make the stuff to sell at the liquor store) will put pretty much any high-octane booze in there. And to be fair, there aren't exactly any rules about this sort of stuff.

As Celeste pointed out, egg nog is packed with a shitload of calories. This was traditionally served to people who hiked miles in the cold and sang carols for money. Made sense to give people a cup full of 2000 calories when they were going to burn that off trundling through the snow to the next house. Hardly subdivision stuff.



But I do love it!

So do I, but in deference to my heart and my waistline I try to only have a small glass or two in season, with the rest in coffee.

My former brother-in-law liked rum, so he made it with rum. Yuck.

[Adam]

So do I, but in deference to my heart and my waistline I try to only have a small glass or two in season, with the rest in coffee.

My former brother-in-law liked rum, so he made it with rum. Yuck.

Pffffft. Heart disease. Like that's anything to worry about.

Sheesh.

[Celeste Chalfonte]

Guilty as charged, although actual homemade mayonnaise is a spoiling delight that will make you forever foreswear Hellmann's and that other abomination upon this earth, Miracle Whip.

Brew your own beer at your own risk. Can be great, but like a soufflé, you will go through several disasters along the way. Beer-brewing is not an activity so much as it is a hobby or one's efforts to learn a musical instrument: something for which one continually pursues a better performance.

In proper American egg nog the nog is bourbon. Typically, the Brits make it with sherry. But lots of people (including folks who just make the stuff to sell at the liquor store) will put pretty much any high-octane booze in there. And to be fair, there aren't exactly any rules about this sort of stuff.

As Celeste pointed out, egg nog is packed with a shitload of calories. This was traditionally served to people who hiked miles in the cold and sang carols for money. Made sense to give people a cup full of 2000 calories when they were going to burn that off trundling through the snow to the next house. Hardly subdivision stuff.



But I do love it!

OK, I have found a suitable substitute for Publix eggnog. I passed up Safeway and Nob Hill tonight and made the pilgrimage to Lucky's. They turned the Lucky's we used to patronize into a Food Maxx. Safeway tries to out-granola Trader Joe's, and I have had it with being charged extra for "organic" stuff that's friggin' tasteless. Nob Hill is better but yet higher priced and never has enough checkers. I found another Lucky's, though, tucked away behind an office park. At Lucky's, if I want something that's not good for me, by Godfrey, I can buy it! So I tried the eggnog. Got a quart of the low-fat and, just in case that was bad, a quart of the real deal. So far, haven't opened the regular, because the low-fat is plenty rich. And with a shot of Hennessy, just what the doctor ordered! Brandy or cognac, that's the ticket if you're going to spike it. Rum is just nasty.

[daveman]

Pffffft. Heart disease. Like that's anything to worry about.

Sheesh.

[Dallas]

Eggnog is great when it's at the office or the bank and I've got my flask of bourbon on me.

This. When I was dancing...the Meathead brought in the most amazing eggnog. I was about to order a shot to put in it when he told me that there was enough. I thought he was full of shit. NOPE.

~Dallas