Eggnog Loaf

We had extra eggnog left after Christmas.  I found this recipe and it looked interesting.

http://www.emcottawaeast.ca/20111222/lifestyle/Suggestions+for+using+leftover+eggnog

Ingredients

1/4 c melted marg or butter
3/4 c sugar
2 beaten eggs
2 1/4 c flour

2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c chopped pecans
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c mixed candied fruit1 c eggnog

 Combine the dry ingredients with the nuts, raisins and candied fruit.

Stir together to coat the fruit and nuts.

Mix together butter and sugar.

Beat eggs into the mixture.

Stir in about 1/3 of the eggnog.

Add about half of the dry mixture and stir just until moistened.

Add another 1/3 of the eggnog, and stir, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients.

Finally, stir in the last of the eggnog.  You don't want to stir loaves and quick bread too much or they become tough.

Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.

This recipe makes two full sized loaves.

Bake at 350F for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove it from the pan and cool completely before slicing.

I found the loaf very tasty with the mixed fruit and nuts.  You can taste the flavour of the eggnog.  It has a Christmasy taste and look to it.  Enjoy!  ;)

Homemade Eggnog

One of the popular Christmas drinks is rum and eggnog.  I've not been a big fan of it because I think store-bought eggnog tastes artificial.  There is something about it that leaves an aftertaste in my mouth.

When I was young and taking home-ec (before the days of not eating raw eggs), we learned how to make eggnog.  It was simple - beat one egg with a spoon of sugar and a bit of vanilla, add milk and drink.  Sometimes I would add cinnamon or nutmeg or both.  I would sometimes add ice cream so it was thicker.  As I grew older, I quit making the eggnog because it didn't have enough taste.

I belong to the Backyard Chickens Forum and Miss Prissy shared her eggnog recipes.  I adapted mine from hers.  http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=202168#p202168

Ingredients
12 eggs, separated
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
4 c (1 liter) half and half
4 c (1 liter) 2 % milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
nutmeg for sprinkling if desired
**optional - spiced rum if desired for extra zing for the adults

I used my Cuisinart and several large bowls to mix the eggnog.  Separate the eggs and dump egg whites in mixer bowl.

Beat the egg whites until stiff and slowly pour in 3/4 cup of the sugar while beating.  Gently move the egg whites to another bowl so you can reuse the mixer.

Notice how lovely the egg yolks from my girls are - none of those pale store bought yolks for us.  ;) 

Beat yolks until creamy and slowly pour in the other 3/4 cup of sugar.  The egg yolks will be thick and light yellow in color.  Mix in vanilla. 

Pour egg yolks into a large bowl. 

Add egg whites to bowl.

Fold egg whites into beaten yolks.

Sprinkle on nutmeg.

Pour in milk and cream and stir carefully.

Look at those lovely frothy clouds of goodness.

Pour into glasses.  Sprinkle with nutmeg if desired.  Add spiced rum if desired.  Enjoy!

Miss Prissy used whole milk and heavy cream in her recipe but I think mine was rich enough.  Next time I would make a half recipe since it is so rich and creamy.  We each had 2 glasses of the eggnog because it was so good but now no one wants supper.  It was too filling.  I still have 2 1/2 containers in the fridge for later.  We'll see how it fares staying in the fridge to use another day.

PS:  The eggnog does lose its fluffiness sitting in the fridge but is still very tasty.  It also doesn't seem as filling.  When it is so foamy, the air that was beaten into the eggs had a filling effect on us all for a number of hours.  So I retract what I said about halving the recipe - its not needed.

To all my readers and friends - have a very Merry Christmas.