~~~ EGGNOG~~~

IF YOU SEE A FAT MAN ...

Who's jolly and cute,

Wearing a beard and a red flannel suit,

And if he is chuckling
and laughing away,

While flying around in a miniature sleigh,

With eight tiny reindeer to pull him along,

Then let's face it...

Your eggnog's too strong!

EGGNOG

This wonderful Egg Nog is light and fluffy, as well as rich and creamy. Its cloudlike texture is produced by separating the eggs and beating the whites before adding them to the milk mixture. The egg nog base can be made one day in advance. All you need do is to beat the stiff egg whites and whipped cream just before serving.

INGREDIENTS:

· 12 Eggs, separated
· 1 1/2 cups Sugar
· 1 quart Whole Milk
· 1 1/2 quarts Heavy Cream
· 3 cups Bourbon
· 1/2 cup Dark Rum (more if you like it strong)
· 2 cups Cognac
· 1 quart Vanilla Ice Cream (softened)
· Freshly grated Nutmeg

Preparing the Egg Nog:

1. In a very large bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and pale yellow. Gradually add sugar to the yolks. With a wire whisk, beat in milk and 1 quart cream. Add the bourbon, rum and cognac, stirring constantly. This cooks the egg mixture.
2. Just before serving, beat the egg whites until stiff, adding a little sugar to sweeten. Fold into the egg mixture. Whip the remaining 1/2 quart heavy cream until stiff and fold it in. Then fold in the ice cream.
3. Sprinkle with nutmeg

OR

Egg Nog is a traditional holiday drink brought to America in the late 1700s by European settlers. The term "Nog" is an old English word for ale. The rich creamy drink was enhanced in the Old South by adding Bourbon Whiskey and is an original recipe. To make the finest egg nog possible we've added our finest Bourbon Whiskey.

Evan Williams Original Southern Egg Nog is a delicious blend of egg nog with Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and other fine spirits. Just chill, pour into a punch bowl, and garnish with nutmeg, cinnamon or mint leaves. It makes a great holiday entertaining tradition even better and easier - the spirits are already blended into the egg nog!

I love Evan Williams Egg Nog but to keep it a little milder I mix it with store bought egg nog. Then add a little sprinkle of nutmeg on top...

Santa Claus

The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century. He was very pious from an early age, devoting his life to Christianity. He became widely known for his generosity for the poor. But the Romans held him in contempt. He was imprisoned and tortured. But when Constantine became emperor of Rome, he allowed Nicholas to go free. Constantine became a Christian and convened the Council of Nicaea in 325. Nicholas was a delegate to the council. He is especially noted for his love of children and for his generosity. He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. He is also, of course, the patron saint of children. The Dutch kept the legend of St. Nicholas alive. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, in Anglican, to Santa Claus. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which was later published as "The Night Before Christmas." Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit. However, his authorship is controversial. Some scholars suggest that it was Henry Livingston Jr. who wrote the poem.

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2OO9

Until Later