:D

Nearly one year ago to this day I tried my first store bought eggnog, it didn't live up to expectations, however shortly after a friend gave me the recipe for an eggnog that looked stunning. Vowing to try it again the next year, the time had finally arrived.

A drink consisting of rum, brandy, or other alcohol mixed with beaten egg, milk, and sugar.

This eggnog recipe was one of the things I was looking forward to the most for Christmas this year, I started planning it months ahead, looking up jugs to store it in, glasses to serve it in and pondering the recipe.

In the end I modified the original recipe I was supplied slightly and it turned out absolutely amazing. This beverage is rich, however I thought it was a nice treat that I would only ever have once a year.

Eggnog has always seemed like a very American thing to me espically from my memory of The Simpsons:

Marge: [Opening the refridgerator] Homer, didn't you get any milk? All I see is eggnog.

Homer: 'Tis the season, Marge! We only get thirty sweet noggy days. Then the government takes it away again. [pours some on his cereal]

From originally looking at this recipe it looked it was going to be smooth and creamy and it delivered. From the first sip you get the delicious creamy texture then right after you get the distinct taste of rum, it's so good.

It was pretty easy to make, the 3 cups of rum makes it look like rocket fuel, but the dairy ingredients really tones it down. No doubt some people found it too strong though, so it can be adjusted to taste. Making it in 1 litre jugs would allow you to add varying amounts of rum in 3 seperate ways.

The spicing from the cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg as well as the vanilla beans was spot on and kept getting better with age. It turned out perfectly, I'll be making this again next year. The recipe and entire process in photos can be found below.

Eggnog

Ingredients:

• 12 Egg Yolks
• 5 Cloves (whole)
• 4 cups of Milk
• 4 cups of Cream
• 3 cups of Light Rum
• 1 cup of Caster Sugar
• 2 Whole Vanilla Beans
• 1 teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of Ground Nutmeg

Method:

1. Using a small knife, split one vanilla bean in half and scoop out seeds from one of the halves.
2. Using low heat in a saucepan, blend the milk, cinnamon, cloves and the vanilla bean seeds.
3. Keep stirring while the mixture heats.
4. Remove from heat before it starts to boil.
5. In a bowl, mix together the sugar with the egg yolks with an electric mixer until they are light and fluffy.
6. Gently pour in the milk mixture while continuing to whisk.
7. Transfer mixture back into your saucepan over a medium heat.
8. Stir continuously.
9. Keep stirring until the eggnog mixture starts to resemble custard.
10. Pour and strain the mixture into several jugs, removing the cloves.
11. Chill the pitcher in the refrigerator for 2 hours or more.
12. Split the remaining vanilla bean and scoop out all the seeds from all pods.
13. Gently stir in the cream, light rum and remaining vanilla seeds.
14. Cut vanilla bean pods into even pieces and place into jugs as well as the ground nutmeg, stiring again until combined.
15. Chill covered in the fridge overnight.
16. Serve in glasses (optionally with ground nutmeg, cinnamon sprinkled lightly on top, it's fine just as is though).
17. Makes approximately 3 litres.