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* [http://x-entertainment.com/updates/2007/11/10/egg-nog-from-a-moose-mug-yes/#comments Humorous eggnog recipe ]
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[[Category:Christmas food]]
[[Category:Christmas food]]

Revision as of 18:15, 29 November 2007

File:Organic Eggnog.jpg
Two common varieties of organic eggnog in the dairy case of a U.S. grocery store.

Eggnog (or egg nog) is a sweetened dairy-based beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs (which gives it a frothy texture), and flavoured with ground cinnamon and nutmeg; alcoholic versions also exist with the addition of various liquors, such as rum, brandy, or whisky. Eggnog is popular in North America. Eggnog is associated with winter celebrations such as Christmas and New Year's. Commercial, non-alcoholic eggnog is available around Christmas time and the winter holidays in North American grocery stores and this variant is available all year round in Australian stores. While the origins of eggnog are debated, it may have originated from posset (a medieval European beverage made with hot milk).

History

The origins, etymology, and even the ingredients used to make the original eggnog drink, are debated. Eggnog, or a very similar drink, may have originated in East Anglia, England. An article[1] by Nanna Rognvaldardottir, an Icelandic food expert, states that the drink adopted the nog part of its name from the word noggin, a middle English phrase used to describe a small, wooden, carved mug used to serve alcohol in. Another name for this English drink was Egg Flip. Yet another story is that the term derived from the name egg-and-grog, a common Colonial term used to describe rum. Eventually the term was shortened to egg'n'grog, then eggnog.

The ingredients for the drink were too expensive and uncommon for the lower classes, but it was popular among the aristocracy. "You have to remember, the average Londoner rarely saw a glass of milk," says author and historian James Humes ("To Humes It May Concern", July 1997). "There was no refrigeration, and the farms belonged to the big estates. Those who could get milk and eggs to make eggnog mixed it with brandy or Madeira or even sherry."[2]

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 . The inexpensive liquor coupled with plentiful farm and dairy products helped the drink become very popular in America.[3]

Ingredients

Modern eggnog typically consists of milk, eggs, and sugar all mixed together; it may be served with or without added spirits. Other ingredients include spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, or allspice. Frequently cream is substituted for some portion of the milk to make a much richer drink. Toppings may include vanilla, ice cream or whipped cream.

Eggnog can be produced from homemade recipes; however, ready-made eggnog containing alcohol and "just-add-alcohol" versions are available for purchase. Whiskey, rum, brandy, or cognac are often added. Since the 1960s, eggnog has often been served cold and without alcohol, both of which are significant departures from its historical origins. Lowfat eggnog is commercially available or it may be prepared in the home using skimmed or lowfat milk.[4] In North America, a few soymilk manufacturers offer seasonally-available, soy-based alternatives for vegans and those with dairy or milk allergies. Eggnog may be added as a flavouring to food or other drinks. Eggnog-flavoured ice cream, for example, is a seasonal product in the US.

Brandy Egg Nog
IBA official cocktail
TypeMixed drink
Base spirit
ServedOn the rocks: poured over ice
Standard garnishNutmeg
Standard drinkware
Highball glass
IBA specified
ingredients†
  • 4.0 cl (1.5 oz) Brandy
  • 5.0 cl (2 oz) Milk
  • 1.0 cl (2 tsp) Gomme syrup
  • 1 egg yolk
PreparationPour all ingredients into shaker with ice cubes, shake well. Strain into a highball with ice cubes. Sprinkle with fresh ground nutmeg.
Brandy Egg Nog recipe at International Bartenders Association

Significance

Eggnog is typically served as a Christmas drink or during New Year's Eve. American Thanksgiving (late November) falls at the beginning of the season eggnog is typically consumed, but the product begins appearing in stores around Halloween, although it can be found in a small handful of stores year-round. Historically, it has been a winter beverage not specifically associated with any holiday.

References

  1. ^ Rognvaldardottir, Nanna. "History of Eggnog". What's Cooking America. Retrieved 2006-12-16. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Robinson, Oliver (2006-12-15). "Bottoms Up: Eggnog". that's Beijing Magazine and Blogs. True Run Media. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  3. ^ Block, Stephen. "The History of Egg Nog". Food History. The Kitchen Project. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
  4. ^ Low Fat Eggnog
  • Rombauer, Irma S. and Marion Rombauer Becker (1931 [1964]) The Joy of Cooking, pp 48, 50. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill. ISBN 0-452-25665-8.

See also