Saturday, December 7, 2013

Christmas movies and eggnog, the secret ingredient

I am an eggnog fan. Always have been. Over the decades I've seen a lot of eggnog flavored cookies, chocolate, coffee and wondered why? Part of the appeal of eggnog for me was the cool creamy taste. Not crumbly. Not overly sweet. Definitely NOT hot!

Egg nog used to be so special, punch bowl sets were made specifically for the opportunity to drink the nog!


Eggnog is my drink of choice while I watch the Alastair Sim version of The Christmas Carol. Love watching that movie, love drinking the 'nog. I drank so much eggnog most Christmas Eves that I was sick Christmas morning.

You can purchase the original black and white version of A Christmas Carol here. I hate when they colorize classic movies!


An upset tummy should have been a clue that eggnog is just a little bit rich. Cream, sugar,eggs, more cream. That stuff is thick. Even worse most brands, when I was growing up, had a lot of thickening gums like guar or carrageneen. They would coat the tongue like nothing else.  I blame that stuff for giving eggnog a bad rep or maybe it was the folks who made it from scratch and got salmonella because the eggs were uncooked!


But I discovered Organic Valley Eggnog this year and am in heaven. It's not gummy, overly sweet, lacking in nutmeg.  It is the best eggnog with organic ingredients that make it all that much more delicious. These aren't their recipes but the brand makes all the difference.

 But eggnog is a great ingredient in many different recipes because it is made with milk, cream, sugar and a dose of spices. Eggnog gives a richness to recipes or a holiday taste that is special.
Ah, such a pretty bowl of ice cream - with a bit of nutmeg on top!

 
Easy Egg Nog Ice Cream

One container Organic Valley egg nog.  Yes, that's it!

Throw it in your ice cream maker and in less than 20 minutes it is frozen enough to pack and cure for a few hours. 

That's it. So delicious. If you don't eat all of it right away, be sure to let it sit out on the counter for about 15 minutes to soften before eating.

Not if you aren't a winter ice cream person, there is always fudge. I had trouble finding recipes that did not have marshmallow cream (yep, made with corn syrup so it was a no go). But I did find a recipe that appealed to me even though it didn't use egg nog, just evoked the flavor.

To be truthful, I had a cream cheese recipe I had high hopes for.  But weather events intervened to make me choose!  Unseasonably warm and humid weather in this neck of the woods affected the cream cheese recipe and made it more like frosting! The simpler recipe did look like fudge. But nothing is going to waste. Just think of how the cream cheese frosting will taste on ginger bread or carrot cake. Or just try making it on a better weather day. Epic fails are what we do best here at Yankee Belle. 

So here is the recipe that works in crazy winter weather. (Thinking of all my friends affected by the snow, ice and power outages).  And remember, you can add nuts.


Microwave Eggnog Fudge Find the original recipe by Anne Colagioia and video here. I adapted it for the microwave as well as using one bag of chips and omitting the nuts. Most recipes use one bag or two cups.


Two cups white chocolate chips (usually one 11oz bag)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons cold butter
1 teaspoon vanilla or rum flavoring
Nutmeg to taste
Nuts, optional  

1. Microwave chips for one minute at 50 power to melt. Stir until melted. If not totally melted, microwave for intervals of 15 seconds. You may be able to microwave on high for one minute but I have developed hot spots so do a lower temp. Stir well so the chips break down and you don't get burn spots. If you know your microwave well, do as you would for melting regular chocolate chips.
2. Pour condensed milk over melted chips and stir.
3. Cut cold butter over mixture and microwave for 30 seconds. Take out and stir until butter is melted.
4. Add vanilla or rum flavoring and several shakes of nutmeg. Stir until blended.
5. Pour into a narrow loaf pan if you like the fudge think or an 8X8 if you like it not as high.  Less calories per piece too. If you add the nuts, it will be a thicker fudge cube.
6. Refrigerate until firm at least two hours.

My humble opinion? I liked that fudgy rich mouth feel. But you be the judge!

So, what is your favorite version of a Christmas Carol or do you have another favorite Christmas movie? Are you pro-egg nog or anti?  Do you have a favorite fudge base?

    







   

33 comments:

  1. I love egg nog! When I was in high school, my best friend and I would buy a pint each at lunch time and drink it with our food. Yeah. One day I looked at the back and almost fainted. I was consuming about 1800 calories of egg nog a day during the Christmas season.
    Ever since, I've been a little suspicious of that yummy stuff.
    Now, I buy All Natural Bolthouse Farms egg nog. It doesn't have high fructose corn syrup, 80% less fat, 60% fewer calories, 75% less cholesterol and high in protein. It's at Walmart here so I'm guessing you can find it across the country.
    Anyway, I feel better about having egg nog this way because it's just not Christmas without it!!
    Now I'm wondering if the stuff I buy will freeze... Hmmmm....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, yes, yes. Give it a try. If you want to add the calories back in, you can throw some heavy cream in there. That might help it freeze.

      Delete
  2. Here's a link to someone's blog where they talk about Bolthouse Farms nog. http://boltach.com/2011/11/17/seasons-best-egg-nog/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My eggnog was voted best by Esquire. I guess I shouldn't confess that.

      Delete
  3. Blog.
    Nog.
    It's a blog nog!

    Ok, maybe I should get some sleep.

    ReplyDelete
  4. pro nog. I'm making that ice cream today. Thanks Julie! As the result of the union between a Dickens fan and a musical fan I have to go with Scrooge with Albert Finney, and Mr. Magoo's version. We know, and sing all of the songs. I sing them the worst, but they just ignore me....:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had totally forgotten the Magoo version until you all mentioned it! Good luck with the ice cream.

      Delete
    2. In the Huguley household, there is no forgetting Mr. Magoo. My mother loved it and I look forward to digging out her VHS copy and watching it. :)

      Delete
    3. For us it was Rudolf. Must watch Magoo.

      Delete
  5. Not a nog fan. Sorry.

    You're tempting me to try the Organic Valley, but the way I look at it, I've got plenty enough fattening food vices, why add another? So I'll stick with my Starbucks Peppermint Mocha thankyouverymuch.

    Favorite movie growing up was Rudolf for sure, but when my children were growing up, I discovered a delightful musical mouse version of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. It's told and sung by Joel Grey and has a earworm song, Even a Miracle Needs a Hand and Christmas Chimes are calling. You can find it on YouTube now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf1ozCbTF_4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love another movie I don't know! Mint gives me a headache!

      Delete
  6. Don't think I've ever had egg nog...r the eggs cooked? Don't wanna eat raw eggs...
    Susanna

    ReplyDelete
  7. We watched the Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol last night...and later watched the Muppet Christmas Carol.

    The message in the Muppet version is a bit too new agey for me, but it's cute. My favorite part was when my son said, ""Is it just me or is Kermit the Frog a more realistic person than Kim Kardashian? And more attractive too."

    Egg nog is a love/hate relationship - usually WAY too sweet, but I love the flavor. I'll have to try one of the natural versions.

    Oh, and be sure to stop by Monday for Cheryl St. John's egg nog scones! They're fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhhhh, sounds marvelous.

      I usually cut my egg nog with milk!

      Hope you aren't totally buried in snow!

      Delete
  8. Oh, Susanna, it's worth it regardless, I promise! And the stuff you buy is all homogenized and pasteurized and you're fine with it, but I used to make home-made and didn't care about the eggs.... Think steak tartare...(wait, don't, I can't imagine eating that, LOL!!!!) Oh, wait... French creme desserts, with whipped egg to give the "creme" the silken texture..... But honestly, pasteurization takes care of cooking your eggs for you!

    I've never thought of just FREEZING EGG NOG!!!!! But Virginia, I have thought of that flip side of the carton... and I love egg nog, I just LOVE IT SO MUCH.... but I waited until Thanksgiving week to indulge... and now I'm waiting until Christmas to do it again. Julie, my favorite all-time Christmas movie is It's a Wonderful Life.... but then I love the Alistair version of Scrooge and the Muppet version of Scrooge.... A Christmas Carol is such a perfectly balanced Christmas story! ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. so it IS raw? I don't like raw egg or meat - meat has to be practically burned fo rme :-( scones sound good though! those aren't raw..nver had steak tartare but if it's raw ain't ever gonna!
      Susanna

      Delete
    2. No, not the eggnog in cartons. But there are people who use pasturized eggs to make it and still get the original recipe down.

      Delete
    3. Ruthy, it is all good to me. We have kind of created the problem bacteria of the day. It is a wonder humanity survived egg dishes.

      I am a total Wonderful Life fan!

      Delete
  9. I forgot Cheryl was coming on!!!! Oh, oh, oh!!!!

    Let's wash the best teacup service.... If you have fancy teacups, bring them along to go with the SCONES!!!! Mary Virginia, I know you've got some!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. U can use my teacups too!
      Susanna

      Delete
  10. Hey, I have my grandmother set from one side and Man O's grandmother's tea caddy to set it on. We are all set.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love Christmas movies... and watch the countdown to Christmas movies way more than I should. I also love the old classics. My favorite Christmas Carol by far is the 1951 Alastair Sim version (the one you have pictured w/ the link).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know why I love his portrayal but he does seem to embody the humanity of Scrooge.

      Delete
  12. I love egg nog!! My favorite way to have it is in a milkshake. Mix egg nog with vanilla ice cream in a blender. It's amazing!

    I'll be sure to look for Virginia's lower fat version. I usually buy a carton and then only drink it once (no one else in the family wants any). But if it's lower calorie, I may have my milkshake more than once. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhhhh. I made the mistake of buying extra cartons for the blog. And I am the only fan here too.

      Delete
  13. Also meant to say that my favorite movies are It's a Wonderful Life and The Grinch (both animated and the newer Jim Carrey version).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The grinch's heart grew that day gets me every time.

      Delete
    2. Julie, me too. I even put something similar in a book! :)

      Delete
  14. OH MY GOSH. I had this recipe in high school and I lost it. THANK YOU!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you serious? Go and ahead and add on those extra pounds on me!

      Delete
    2. PS My daughter swears by using the double boiler for white chocolate chips since white chocolate tends to be more finicky than regular chips. That is why I use 50 power and go slower.

      Delete
  15. Julie, I agree with your daughter. I use a bowl over a pot with low simmering water for the white chocolate because it goes stiff.... but a little bit of vegetable oil added brings it around again!

    Missy, an egg nog milkshake....

    OH MY STARS does that sound wonderful??????

    Mmmm.............

    ReplyDelete