How to Make the Best Ever Eggnog

Believe it or not, unless you are serving to fancy company pouring this eggnog into cleaned out, recycled jelly jars, pasta jars or mason jars makes it so much easier to drink. Just shake and serve, perfect every time. Wrapping an inexpensive ribbon will make the simplest jar festive enough for gifting and it's also another way to go green. This eggnog is so good, in fact, that your friends and relatives will most likely return the empty jars in the hopes that you will gift them with eggnog again next year.

Ingredients:

8 Eggs

3/4 C Sugar

4 C Milk

1 C Heavy Cream

1 1/2 C Rock N' Rye or Citrus Infused Bourbon (Southern Comfort/Old Grandad) ... If you can't get Rock N' Rye then just cut up one whole orange and one thin slice of lemon and place into the bourbon. Let sit overnight.

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

3/4 Tsp Freshly Grated Nutmeg

Instructions:

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with 1/4 C of the sugar until the mixture falls in a ribbon when the whisk is lifted, about 2 minutes.

In a heavy medium saucepan, combine the milk and cream with the remaining 1/2 C sugar. Bring to a boil taking extra care not to scald the mixture while stirring to dissolve the sugar. Whisk all of the hot liquid into the egg/sugar mixture.

Let the eggnog cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the bourbon, vanilla and nutmeg. Pour the eggnog into containers for serving/gifting, cover and let cool, then refrigerate. The eggnog will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Tips:

1. Even the slightest scalding during step 2 will render the eggnog inedible. If scalding occurs, dump the milk out and begin again with fresh ingredients.

2. A citrus liqueur is not an acceptable substitute for the Rock N' Rye or citrus infused bourbon.

3. When it comes to the nutmeg avoid the powdery stuff using freshly grated whole nutmeg instead. It seems like a minor difference but if affects the end product in a big way.

4. Always use a liquor infused pure vanilla extract such as Rose & Ivy brand Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract or Rose & Ivy brand Seven Year Supply Premium Vanilla Infusion Kit. I prefer Tito's brand vodka in my infusion kit. This may be a small ingredient but it makes a world of difference.

5. The eggnog achieves peak flavor if left to sit overnight in the refrigerator.