Happy Saturday Friends!
I have a few essential items for a successful Christmas celebration and one of those is...........EGGNOG!
I'm sure there was either a collective gagging or cheering out there in cyberspace. This is one of those you love it or hate it drinks. I love it. Now, I would absolutely NEVER make a homemade batch. The thought of a bunch of raw eggs grosses me out. I remember trying to make it once as a kid and was horrified to discover that eggnog did indeed have eggs. Blech. But the ultra-pasteurized and over sweetened carton from the local store? Yes please. It's delicious in coffee, with added spirits or straight up cold out of the carton.
It's no surprise that I like the nog because it has ancient origins. Side note-I have a thing for ancient foods and recipes. I heard once of someone who only cooked from recipes dating from 1860 or earlier. Now that would be a stunt. My Mother has a cookbook/history book from the Renaissance and Medieval Times. Mom, if you are reading this, I still want that book. There is some debate if the original eggnog drink originated in East Anglia, England or if it was developed from posset, a medieval European beverage made with hot milk. The "nog" part of its name may come from the work "noggin", a Middle English term used to describe a small, carved wood mug used to serve alcohol. The drink was also called an Egg Flip from the practice of flipping/rapidly pouring the mixture between two pitchers to mix it. Another possibility is the term came from "egg" and "grog", a common Colonial term used for the drink made with rum. Eventually, like many words in the English language it morphed from "egg'n'grog" to "eggnog".
In Britain, the drink was popular mainly with the aristocracy (I wonder if the Queen likes it and if it will be a part of her Diamond Jubilee). It makes sense because dairy products and eggs were rarely consumer by lower classes due to their high cost and lack of refrigeration. They instead celebrated by drinking gruel. Fun times. If you could get your hands on milk and eggs and decided to make a drink rather than to feed your family with it, then you mixed it with brandy, madeira or sherry.
The drink crossed the Atlantic to the English colonies during the 18th century. Since brandy and wine were heavily taxed, rum from the Triangular Trade with the Caribbean was a cost effective substitute. (Completely unrelated side note-I was reading a fascinating article on Women and Whiskey yesterday in BUST magazine. Whiskey is really the All-American drink because it came into vogue when Rum was so expensive and heavily taxed. I'm intrigued and I'm sure you'll hear more about this but suffice to say that if you are feeling patriotic for the love of all things sacred don't order Bud Light but get a glass of whiskey made in America.)
Anywho-folks were in a place now where they had access to inexpensive liquor, coupled with plentiful farm and dairy products and the drink became very popular. When the supply of rum was reduced as a consequence of the American Revolutionary War, Americans turned to domestic whiskey (!!!) and eventually bourbon in particular, as a substitute.
If you are feeling brave you can try a recipe (check out Marthastewart.com) but there are so many safe versions-high fat, low fat, low sugar, soy-milk, etc-that I would say this is one time to call it a day with the stunts and just go to the store. Besides, if you are like me, you are behind on the Christmas knitting and time can't be wasted!!
Buon Weekend Darlings!
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