I really didn’t know much of the history behind this pleasurable holiday beverage. Growing up on a dairy farm meant that eggnog was a common treat though. We raised our own chickens, and of course, had our own milk and cream from those black and white beauties in the barn. One memory that still stands out in my mind about eggnog revolves around my cousin Butch. Butch was much older than I was and he lived with us at various times while working as a hired hand on the farm. One morning he cracked an egg in a glass. Poured in some milk, a little sugar and a smidge of vanilla extract. He stuck a fork in the glass and gave it a few stirs. Then he handed the glass to me and said, “Drink it straight down and don’t stop.” Even that experience has never deterred me from drinking eggnog.
By the way, I’ve found it spelled eggnog and egg nog. Not sure who’s right on that front. Various stories abound around the inception of this winter toddy. However, the consensus says that eggnog is a tradition that was brought to America from Europe. Eggnog is related to various milk and wine punches that had been concocted long ago in the “Old World”. However, in America a new twist was put on the theme. Rum was used in the place of wine. In Colonial America, rum was commonly called “grog”, so the name eggnog is likely derived from the very descriptive term for this drink, “egg-and-grog”, which corrupted to egg’n'grog and soon to eggnog. At least this is one version…
Others say that the “nog” of eggnog comes from the word “noggin”. A noggin was a small, wooden, carved mug. It was used to serve drinks at the table in taverns. The true story might be a mixture of the two and eggnog was originally called “egg and grog in a noggin”. That was a term that required shortening if there ever was one.
Most eggnog recipes call for some form of liquor. We never had liquor in our house so I have never used it when making eggnog. There are various ways of making this creamy beverage too. Some recipes say to separate the eggs, beat the yolks with the cream and sweetener and then beat the whites and fold them in. I’ve never done that but I tried it last night and did not like it. It was too frothy and foamy. Most all recipes call for sugar but I’ve developed a recipe using honey. The organic ice cream is optional but adds a nice twist. And yes, eggnog uses raw eggs. Since I buy organically raised eggs from free-roaming chickens, I have no concerns over using raw eggs. However, if that’s not something you’re comfortable doing, by all means have a cup of tea instead.
