Monday, December 27, 2010

Holiday spirit, eggnog and peppermint cocktails:





Legend has it that when David was a child, he had a memorable encounter with store bought eggnog. While shopping with his mother during the holidays, he spied a carton in the dairy case, and asked if they could purchase the stuff. "You're not going to like it". She told him. David, feeling contrary, pestered her relentlessly while she attempted the rest of her shopping.

She finally gave in, but made him promise to drink all of it if he was so sure he wanted it.

After they got home, she poured him a nice big glass of eggnog. He took one swig, and decided that she was right; he didn't like it after all.

He tried to beg off drinking the rest, but his mom was not having it--she reminded him of the conditions under which she bought the carton. David decided that he wasn't going to drink it, even if he had promised. So he just sat there, staring at the glass of gradually warming eggnog. David can be very patient. I imagine he thought he could wait this out.

His mother's solution? To set the kitchen timer for half an hour. By the time it had gone off, she said, David had to finish his glass, or he would be in big trouble. It ended with a sorry scene of David, tears running down his face, trying in vain to choke down now lukewarm eggnog.

This was in the '80's, where consumers and companies were not nearly as conscientious about additives, preservatives and stabilizers, so I don't doubt that whatever eggnog David spied really was vile. And no, his mother had a heart and didn't make him finish his glass once the timer was up.

However, not all eggnogs are created equal.



Horizon makes a great eggnog that you can probably still get on the shelves if you are quick. With real nutmeg, great flavor and zero chance of food poisoning from raw egg (yay), it's perfect to make an eggnog cocktail. We also added caramel alcohol infused whipped cream, which Maureen thoughtfully gave us for Christmas.


eggnog cocktail:


1.5 oz. 100 proof bourbon

1.5 oz. Frangelico

3 oz. Horizon eggnog

Combine with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake like crazy. Pour into martini glass and garnish with caramel cream and nutmeg.

And what to do with your abundance of leftover candy canes? Why not take some of those leftover holiday frustrations and pulverize them to create a refreshing rim on a candy cane concoction with rumplemintz, vodka, white chocolate liqueur and half and half?

Pulverize candy cane with mortar and pestle. Coat the rim of a small glass in the candy cane dust.


combine:

1 oz. vodka
.

1 oz. white chocolate liqueur

1.5 oz. half and half

1 oz. Rumplemintz


Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Garnish with mini candy cane and a little vanilla whipped cream.








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