Monday 30 November 2015

Christmas Drinks Challenge

How to make Eggnog
As you all know I love experimenting with food and drinks and seeing what wonderful twists I can put on the traditional. 

Waitrose Cellar recently got in contact with a fun Christmas project, the challenge to see what I could do with the traditional Christmas drink, Eggnog. 

Now before you turn away from the screen thinking that Eggnog is for your granny read on and I might just surprise you. 

Being pregnant I haven't had a drink for well over nine months and I can't really say I have missed it. As the birth of our little one approaches and the festive period arrives however, I have been thinking up some great Christmas drinks I could share, so that you can have the fun of making them at home. 

What on earth is Eggnog?
  • Eggnog has a traditional base of cream, sugar, eggs, an alcoholic spirit and spice (the alcohol and spice you add is up to you). How to make Eggnog
  • It originated in East Anglia in the UK and not the USA which is a common misconception as it only travelled there in the 18th Century
  • People all around the world create their own versions of this pudding like drink – there are no real rules
In this post I'm going to share with you two wonderful Eggnog creations, both using different spirits: 

  • Hot Chocolate Orange Eggnog 
  • Portly Santa's White Beard Eggnog

As the nights draw in, nothing beats curling up on the sofa in Christmas pyjama's of course, a cosy blanket and a warm indulgent drink.  

Hot Chocolate Orange Eggnog
Eggnog Hot Chocolate
Ingredients (serves 6)
2 large eggs (separated)
25g caster sugar 
100ml rum (Havana Club)
150ml whipping cream
200ml whole milk 
15 heaped teaspoons of Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate 
Eggnog Hot Chocolate
To decorate:
Nutmeg
15 Marshmallows 
24 mini chocolate brownies
Grated Terry's Chocolate Orange 
Eggnog Recipes
Method: 
1. Whisk the caster sugar and egg yolks together for a few minutes until they appear fluffy, light
and pale. You might find using an electric whisk easier. 
2. Gradually add in the Havana Club Rum a little at a time 
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the two egg whites until they form soft peaks. 
4. Fold your first mixture into the whites very gradually. 
5. Finally, whip the cream (until it just holds its shape) then fold into the mixture too. 
6. Pour 200mls of milk in a saucepan and your eggnog mixture, gently heat, add in the Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate, stirring continuously. 
7. Ladle into six glasses 
8. Dust each glass with nutmeg, decorate with three marshmallows (if you can get festive ones all the better), add four mini chocolate brownies and 
garnish with as much Terry's Chocolate Orange as you like.

NB. Both recipes contains raw eggs, so it is not suitable for for pregnant women, the elderly and those with weak immune systems.

Portly Santa's White Beard Eggnog
Eggnog
Ingredients (serves 6)
2 large eggs (separated)
25g caster sugar 
100ml Port (Warre's Port) 
200ml whole milk 
150ml whipping cream
Eggnog
To decorate:
Nutmeg
Mini Meringue 
Fruity pink shimmer sugar
Gold curls 
Chocolate stars 
Cinnamon Sticks   
Eggnog Recipes
Method: 
1. Whisk the caster sugar and egg yolks together for a few minutes until they appear fluffy, light
and pale. You might find using an electric whisk easier. 
2. Gradually add in the Warre's Port a little at a time, then whisk in the milk a little at a time. (The mixture might separate if left, so might need to be whisked again). 
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the two egg whites until they form soft peaks. 
4. Fold your first mixture into the whites very gradually. 
5. Finally, whip the cream (until it just holds its shape) then fold into the mixture too. 
7. Ladle into six glasses 
8. Dust each glass with nutmeg, decorate with four meringues and garnish with as much shimmer sugar, gold curls and chocolate stars as you like. Top the glass off with a cinnamon stick. 

Even though I couldn't personally enjoy my creations I had no shortage of friends and family who jumped at the chance. The feedback was surprisingly good with some wanting more alcohol and others wanting more chocolate.

If you could make your own Christmas Eggnog creation what would it contain? 

Christmas Eve is National Eggnog Day so the gauntlet has been set share your Eggnog creations with me via Twitter and Istagram (#FFEggnog) and remember there are no limits only your imagination. 

*Thank you very much Waitrose for involving me in this fun Christmas challenge. My ingredients were complimentary for the purposes of making the drinks, but as always I only share things I love. Santa's little helpers kindly gave their time for free.

 photo foodieforce_32.jpg

18 comments:

  1. I'm completely obsessed with eggnog ever since my first Starbucks red cup! Annoying that it's quite hard to find eggnog in the UK (I'm sure that only increases my obsession!) I had no idea eggnog originates from East Anglia, that's a fact I really should know!

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    1. Starbucks do some great Christmas drinks. It's difficult to find ready made eggnog but to be honest it is so easy to make you should give it a go Lucy x

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  2. I will take one of each, please! I tried egg nog for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I'm completely in love with it!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    1. I have it in good authority that the hot chocolate is the best definitely worth a go with the addition of marshmallows Lucy x

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  3. That hot choc eggnog does look gorgeous, a perfect Winter warmer!

    Suze - Luxury Columnist

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  4. These look incredible Lucy, I am really lusting after that hot choc eggnog... yummmmm!

    Ash | Liakada

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    1. The choclate one is totally delicious, you definitely need to try it out Lucy x

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  5. I've never tried eggnog before but the chocolate orange one sounds SO GOOD :) xx

    Toasty

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    1. I'm not a great fan of eggnog on its own in the traditional way but with some imagination, chocolate it is yummy Lucy x

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  6. This is just cruel! You're a saint for making them, I would have refused haha they look sooo delicious! I've made eggnog before but one time it went horribly wrong and turned into sweet, nutmeggy scrambled egg! I went to the shop to buy more eggs and came back to find my dad eating it - with added spinach and tomato to make some kind of messed up frittata!! That man is beyond odd. Hope you're all well, I'm waiting on tenterhooks for the news! xxx
    Lucy @ La Lingua

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    1. They taste great Lucy you definitely need to give them a go Lucy x

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  7. I've never tried egg nog before, but I'm tempted by the fact that Santas little helpers seem to like it!

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    Replies
    1. Santa's little helpers caused lots of mischief and mayhem making them Lucy x

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  8. These sound delicious Lucy! What great ideas!
    Marie x
    www.titchytombie.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. It makes a nice change to cocktail making Lucy x

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  9. Oh my, yes to the chocolate orange recipe! Hope you're well lovely!

    Style Sunrise☀

    :)
    x

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    1. The chocolate orange is wonderful. Very naughty but nice Lucy x

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