There’s much to be done still, but it will all happen in plenty of time, and if it doesn’t, that’s OK too.
Most of the gifts are wrapped, the menu is set for tonight’s dinner with family with just a bit of fussing over dessert to finish. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care (sort of). It started snowing in the night, and right now it is swirling around in its usual snow globe fashion from the winds that blow off Lake Champlain. It’s the kind of snow that surprises you; it doesn’t seem like much, and then all of a sudden you realize there’s quite an accumulation. We don’t have to go outside, so let it snow.
Ever notice we start speaking in Christmas song lyrics just about now?
It’s cold, but that’s alright too, because I have lots to do in the house today, including making a batch of my mom’s eggnog, with a twist or two.
Here is my first gift to you, her original recipe, plus my update!
Mom’s Holiday Eggnog
When we were growing up and had very little money, cream was not on the shopping list. Mother improvised a most delicious egg nog using canned milk and she made it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. We never worried about salmonella then, but if you are afraid you can substitute pasteurized eggs, which just means heating to 160 degrees. Of course, she always made this with a more than ample addition of spirits, sometimes dark rum or brandy, but usually whiskey, or a combination of two or more!
- 3 cans evaporated milk
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 can water
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- Liberal grating of nutmeg and more on the side for garnish
Place all ingredients except nutmeg in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well blended starting with eggs and sugar. Grate nutmeg over top. Add whiskey or brandy if desired or use plain.
Holiday Eggnog 2024
This is my updated version, with tempered eggs just to be on the safe side. Yes, you can also simply use a quart of half-and-half or light cream, but this version has tons of flavor and is great for those who cannot tolerate dairy or lots of saturated fat. I’m using evaporated coconut milk and oat milk today.
- 1 can organic evaporated milk, evaporated skim milk, or evaporated coconut milk
- 1 can milk, any desired %, or plant milk OR
- 1 quart half-and-half or light cream
- 1/3 cup superfine sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp. vanilla paste or extract
- Rum, brandy, or whiskey to taste or desire
- Nutmeg
With an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar together in a large glass bowl until no longer grainy.
Over medium heat, warm the milks to 160 degrees, then temper the eggs by adding a bit of the warmed milk at a time, beater on low, until all incorporated. Return to the pan and warm again to 160, and remove from heat. Beat in the vanilla, a generous grating of nutmeg, and add spirits if desired. Offer nutmeg to grate over each serving, and to with a bit of whipped cream if you like. It is the holiday after all.
My second gift, one of my favorite poems!
Love After Love
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~Derek Wolcott
My third gift to you all:
My third gift to you is a sincere and heartfelt wish for a peaceful and joyous season whatever you celebrate, and a look ahead to a bright and beautiful New Year.
May it be so. Blessed be.
Copyright 2024– or current year, The New Vintage Kitchen. Dorothy Grover-Read. Unattributed use of this material and photographs is strictly prohibited. Reposting and links may be used, provided that credit is given to The New Vintage Kitchen, with active link and direction to this original post.
The New Vintage Kitchen does not accept ads or payment for mention of products or businesses.
Supporter of: Slow Food Fair Trade USA Northeast Organic Farmers Association EcoWatch Let’s Save Our Planet No Kid Hungry Hunger Free Vermont Environmental Working GroupWorld Central Kitchen Sustainable America Seed Savers ExchangeSave the Children Vermont Farm to Plate
Merry Christmas, Dorothy, to you and your family!
Thank you for your gifts!
Joanna x
You are welcome my friend!
Happy Holidays Dorothy! I’ve always wanted to know how to make eggnog!! Thank you for your gift of a wonderful homemade eggnog recipe! Wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
It’s quite easy, and fun to make!
Happy holidays!
Thank you, Dorothy, for the lovely gifts.
You are very welcome!
Happy Holidays Dorothy! Thanks for the lovely gifts !
You are very welcome Jan! Happy Holidays!
Fa la la la la as I raise my glass of eggnog to you and a peaceful earth!
A happy Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you Laurie! Happy Christmas to you too!
To you too my friend! Happy Holidays!
❤️🎄❤️ Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Christmas Eve, my dear friend! Thank you for these lovely gifts, from your home and heart to ours. Wishing you very special Christmas blessings to last throughout the New Year. 🦌 🎅🏼 ✨ 🎄 ❤️
To you too my dear friend! All the best wishes!
Happy Holidays !!
Happy Holidays to you to Marilyn!
Happy Holidays, Dorothy!
Thank you! Have a wonderful time.
I love homemade eggnog and yours sounds very good.
Thank you! Happy holidays!
Happy Christmas and thank you for all the chat and recipes.
Greetings from wet West Cork
Happy Christmas from white Vermont!
Must remember to make egg nog one of these days, Happy New Year Dorothy!
Happiest of holidays!
Merry Christmas! I love eggnog but haven’t had any in several years. I’m sitting here wondering why. Hope yours is delicious and enjoyed by all who gather around your table today.
Merry Christmas Judy! Have a wonderful day!
Merry Christmas Dorothy! May you and your family have a beautiful Holiday!
Merry Christmas to you too!
Merry CHRISTmas! 🌺🎄🌟
Merry Christmas to you Gail!
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Karen!
Merry Christmas, Dorothy!
Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead.
Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas Dorothy, I hope your Christmas was wonderful, and I’m sure the snow is beautiful!
Jenna
Hoping Santa was good to you and yours, Dorothy.
See you in the New Year! ❤️
Happiest of New Years!
Happy holidays! I just noticed you are a Vermonter. I am from Middlebury. 😄
I’m only a half hour away in Charlotte! It’s all in the middle of beautiful!
Thank you for all these lovely gifts! Best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and yours! 🙂
Happy New Year my friend!
Talk about a blast from the past! I think we had that same wallpaper and the table and chairs. The good ole days with delicious eggnog too. Thank you for your gifts and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Dorothy!
Thank you Diane! We all had those kitchens, I think!
Happiest of New Years to you!
Lovely gifts 🎁 Thank you Dorothy! This eggnog must be delicious 😋 Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! Wishing you a wonderful year filled with health and laughter!
I wish all the best to you too Ribana!
I’m sorry I missed this, Dorothy. For some reason, I don’t receive emails with new posts from you, and I’m still trying to catch up with so much time away from WP. I hope your Christmas was wonderful. Love to you.
You are the second person that told me that! She double checked that she was still subscribed, so we’re perplexed!