Having returned to Standard Time, and having survived Halloween, we can't help but acknowledge that winter is settling in. But, the bright side of that is that we have the holiday season to enjoy! In the holiday spirit, we bring you the Thanksgiving Special, which is a drink you truly will give thanks for. What's vexing about this drink, however, is that there is scant information on how this drink got its name or how it is associated with Thanksgiving. The drink is featured in all of the vintage recipe books, yet it isn't a drink many have ever heard of. Here's the version from Mr. Boston's 1979 edition:
Now, if you look up this drink in virtually any comprehensive recipe book, you'll most likely find a version very similar to this (if not identical to this). Alas, this probably explains why this venerable old drink is consigned to the dustbin of memory. Quite simply, this recipe doesn't make for a very good drink. But, these ingredients seem like they'd match up very well. Good news! They do match up very well, but in slightly different proportions. Here's a recipe that makes this drink sing: 
This is a drink you can bring to your Thanksgiving feast and wind up being the toast of the party! We suggest that you start practicing mixing this drink right away, and you'll have it mastered by the time Thanksgiving rolls around in less than 3 weeks! Cheers!
Happy post Thanksgiving ... and, we hope it isn't too early to say ... Merry Christmas! On this day after Thanksgiving, as we burn off those extra calories from yesterday as we dash through the stores at door buster sales, or maybe by cheering on the team while watching the game on TV, let's think about a signature seasonal taste, egg nog. This will be the perfect drink to have while we're putting up those Christmas decorations. Egg nog can be made for the whole brood, as we see in the recipe above which serves 10, or for the individual, as we'll see further down. Here's another recipe, which serves 20:
As we can see, the basic elements for egg nog are eggs, cream, milk, and some spices. Of course, we punch it up with some "extra" ingredients, too! In the first recipe, they included both whiskey and cognac, and in this recipe, they call for only whiskey. In the next recipe, they contemplate both whiskey and rum:
And, by the way, does that look like a party or what? Certainly, these are some interesting recipes to experiment with. Of course, we won't be snobs -- yes, you can go ahead and get egg nog from your local grocery store and mix it up as you like! These recipes are intended to inspire your own experimentation! What if you'd like to explore single servings, though? Consider these options:
Some excellent suggestions, there. Egg nog is an old, timeless, and classic beverage, and uniquely associated with Christmas! We won't mention the threat of calories. This is no time to be thinking about that stuff. Enjoy -- and cheers!
