Mr R does not like creamy sauces so I was almost certain that he wouldn’t like this most festive of drinks. When I asked if he liked Eggnog, he said, “It’s like that avocado stuff, isn’t it?” By which he meant Advocaat of course. And yes, it is like that Advocaat stuff. A bottle of which used to hang around for months after Christmas when I was a nipper and does the same at Silver Screen Suppers Towers too. Because I do love me a Snowball!
The Snowball is the stuff of legends in my family. It is tradition that when I turn up at my parents’ house on Christmas Eve and my dad asks me if I’d like a drink, I always ask for a Snowball. One year about 10 years ago he forgot to buy Advocaat and we have never let him forget it.
I wanted something Christmassy for December’s recipe of the month and I’ve been eyeing up Robert Mitcham’s Eggnog recipe for a few years. Actually, I’ve been eyeing up Robert Mitcham himself for a few years too.
Robert Mitcham says this about his Eggnog, “This recipe will make five quarts. I make no apology for the excessive quantity on the theory that only a dope would go to the trouble for less.” Five quarts is almost 5 litres. Well, at the moment, with no house visitors allowed there is no hope of drinking 5 litres of Eggnog by myself.
OR IS THERE?
So I took a look at Jean Seberg’s recipe, wondering if I could scale it down and make an individual version for a little treat for me myself and I?
Jean’s recipe makes 2 and 1/2 GALLONS which by my reckoning is over 9 litres. WHAT?! How many people did Jean have over for Christmas?!
OK, I am going to do some more maths. A recipe on the BBC website makes 1.5 litres of eggnog and serves 12. So that is 125ml of eggnog per person. Jean’s 2.5 American gallons (I just discovered they are different to UK gallons) = 9463 ml. Divided by 125ml = 75 servings.
JEAN! Why on earth would you supply a recipe to the Motion Picture Mothers cookbook that serves SEVENTY FIVE PEOPLE?!
How many mere mortals buying this book would have 75 glasses in their cupboards? What kind of huge bowl would you mix over 9 litres of eggnog in? Even if we hired the glasswear and industrial sized mixing bowl how many of us could fit 75 people in our abodes for a standup festive eggnog followed by a conga?
Could someone knit this jumper for me please?
I need to sit in a dark room with a cosy sweater on for a while to get over the whole idea of more than 2 people getting together in the same room and touching each other. I am including Jean’ recipe in the hope that NEXT Christmas the pandemic will be over and someone will throw a party for 75 people, make a huge vat of Jean’s Eggnog and invite me over.
Jenny: are you sure that the 2.5 gallons isn’t a misprint? On the other hand, 2.5 U.S. gallons, equals a bout 41.5 cups. Which, sort of makes sense, if you had a stream of people dropping in:)
In any case, anytime I feel like having Eggnog, I just go out and buy a pint/quart of it and add my own quantity of rum.
And, if this goshdarn(I’m trying to be polite)pandemic is ever over, please take this as an invitation to come on over to my place, in Toronto, Canada, to celebrate. And, please bring the lovely Mr. R. along.
Tracy
Hmmm – perhaps it is a misprint – 1/2 cup of Eggnog per person seems a bit stingy! I love your idea of buying Eggnog and adding your own rum – that’s genius. Careful what you wish for though, this goshdarn pandemic WILL be over one day and me and Mr R will be turning up on your doorstep demanding rum laced Eggnog before you know it! Jxxx
The pandemic can’t be over soon enough for me. And, fingers crossed the vaccine begins to work, and then you can visit I’ve here or we(with my husband)will visit England. Either way, bring on the liquid libations.
Tracy! I am laughing out loud here in London as I read this early in the morning and I thought you had written that once the vaccine starts to work I could come and LIVE with you – hahaha! Who knows? But yes, liquid libations will keep us going until this pandemic is over and we will meet somehwere, sometime! Jx
Yes, sorry Jenny, that was a typo. And that was without the benefit of any alcohol:)
We’re hoping that by the late fall, we will be able to travel and if so, we will be heading to Italy to visit family. Once there, we might just hop on over to London. I/we can only hope.
Tracy – you are cordially invited to dinner at Silver Screen Suppers Towers any time you are in London! Fingers crossed for your trip in the Autumn! Jx
I want to come to that party too for a very large glass of eggnog
And I’ll have one of those jumpers too please
In 2022 I am going to throw you an Eggnog birthday party, hell, maybe even in 2021 if the vaccine works! We can all wear huge jumpers.
I’m afraid I really can’t condone a qt of bourbon being used for this and I think Don Ameche would agree with me ! The colour alone puts me off these things. I used to make a Christmas cocktail for neighbours in my old place that involved Cava, Brandy and a tin of raspberries liquidised with their juice, topped with a swirl of canned cream and decorated with a sprig of holly . Most popular !
But for family Xmases of yore it was the ‘Harvey’s Bristol Cream’ for the present unwrapping ceremony and then post dinner out came the Bailey’s with the After Eights. We were nothing if not sophisticated !
Well, your Christmas tipples sound perfect! Was there a name for your raspberry Cava number? I think you should invent one.
I have a bottle of Baileys coming in the next Ocado order. At this time of year I am partial to a Grandma’s Slipper which is Baileys laced with licorice vodka. Yum! JX
It was only ever known, quite originally’ as ‘The Christmas Cocktail’ maybe I should add some Liquorice vodka & top with Baileys and call it the ‘The Donner and Blitzen’ !! Let me know if you try it !
Hahaha! I was devastated when I got a message from Ocado, “You have one missing item” – no Baileys! Luckily I have scored another slot for Sunday so am keeping my fingers crossed…