Some Christmas Baubles

I’ve been getting some requests for my special Baltimore eggnog recipe, and at lunch today, my colleague, Jeff and I were discussing his tinkering with the recipe. Of course, when he and I have lunch, all we do is talk food, recipes and drinks. He’s the originator of the famous “Oysters Jeff-a-peake”, but I can’t give you that recipe. He’d KILL me! Here’s my Baltimore Eggnog Recipe with the super-secret ingredient. Shhh, this is just between us, so don’t let the secret out.

Baltimore Eggnog

12 eggs, separated
2 cups of superfine sugar
1 pint of brandy
½ pint of light rum
½  pint of peach brandy (the secret ingredient)
3 pints of milk
1 pint of heavy cream

Beat the egg yolks and the sugar together until thick. Slowly stir in the brandy, rum, peach brandy, milk and heavy cream. Pour into a punch bowl and chill thoroughly. Beat the egg whites until just stiff and fold gently into the eggnog. Grate a little nutmeg on top and serve in 4-ounce punch cups. Make arrangements for guests to spend the night.

Jeff’s tinkering included a little vanilla extract and some cinnamon, which he called Fog Nog. We talked, at length, about substituting spiced rum for the light rum, or just adding Wild Turkey Honey Whiskey instead of the three other liquors.

Then the conversation veered into having an eggnog tasting. We talked about different variations, including whiskey instead of brandy, maybe one with applejack and cinnamon, I suggested Cointreau and a little coffee liqueur (sort of OJ, coffee & eggs all in one drink). Then it got a little silly, so we stopped there.

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You know I am a huge fan of the Scalamandré Zebras, so when I got this e-card from Scalamandré, I was enchanted!  It’s actually raining today, so I get to use my fabulous umbrella when I walk Connor.

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I saw this great little idea on Alamodeus and thought it would be a great use for the numerous tea tins that I’ve collected over the years. In fact, I thought it might be fun to put my paper white narcissus bulbs in them. This is a windowsill herb garden, but bulbs might be good, too.

I think that this was really Christmas babbles, instead of baubles!