I have many friends who for various reasons such as allergies or intolerance of cows milk have found it impossible to enjoy eggnog. This is a curable and easily fixed problem. There are many nutrient rich alternatives on the market today. When my children were small they could not tolerate cows milk and so I introduced goat milk into our family diet. Goat's milk is rich in vitamins and minerals, and easily obtainable in many grocery stores. When I needed I had to buy the goat and learn to milk, but that is a different story for another time.
In the dairy case at your local market you can locate many different alternatives. There is a wonderful soy milk and almond milk is also available. As you look through all of the eggnog variations on my eggnog recipe site just use the milk that is best for you and your family. My daughter's favorite is still the eggnog freeze during the summer months. So don't let your limitations stop you from enjoying all the great benefits of eggnog!!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Wintertime Eggnog Reminiscences
My Grandmother was fond of telling stories and one of her favorites was when she lived in a logging camp in Northern California and a sudden heavy snow storm made it impossible to even get the log train to move. The loggers gamely dug paths from cabin to cabin and out to the outhouses, and made sure that Grandma could get to the cook shack where she reigned as queen for all the unmarried loggers. It was almost Thanksgiving when she realized that she was almost out of eggs and milk and would not be able to prepare the Traditional Eggnog for the crew. These were hard working, hard living men who would do without alot of things, but going without their eggnog was going to make them a tad bit touchy.
Now my father was a young teenager at that time and spent every free moment sking. It was decided that since this was an emergency situation that he would ski into the nearest town and bring back the needed supplies. They outfitted him with a sled and off he went with instructions not to return if he couldn't get the eggs and milk. It took him a full day to ski into town, a distance of over 60 miles and another full day to make it back to camp. It was getting dark and he was cautious with where he was going, the temperature was dropping way below zero and he was having problems pulling the sled through the drifts. He knew if he stopped he would not survive the night. He kept up a slow steady pace that brought him back into the camp after midnight where he found all of the logging crew waiting up for him. They cheered and made a great fuss over his journey making my father proud of what he had done.
When I found an eggnog recipe in a cook book that was published in 1915 I immediately thought of how hard a life our fore fathers lived to bring us to this modern day and what a rich heritage they have left us!
Now my father was a young teenager at that time and spent every free moment sking. It was decided that since this was an emergency situation that he would ski into the nearest town and bring back the needed supplies. They outfitted him with a sled and off he went with instructions not to return if he couldn't get the eggs and milk. It took him a full day to ski into town, a distance of over 60 miles and another full day to make it back to camp. It was getting dark and he was cautious with where he was going, the temperature was dropping way below zero and he was having problems pulling the sled through the drifts. He knew if he stopped he would not survive the night. He kept up a slow steady pace that brought him back into the camp after midnight where he found all of the logging crew waiting up for him. They cheered and made a great fuss over his journey making my father proud of what he had done.
When I found an eggnog recipe in a cook book that was published in 1915 I immediately thought of how hard a life our fore fathers lived to bring us to this modern day and what a rich heritage they have left us!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Eggnog Freeze
I was asked why I include low calorie recipes in my blog for eggnog. The remark went something like 'you can always exercise to take care of those calories'. Exercise is an important part of staying healthy. We need to be up and moving to use up calories and to strengthen our bodies. But for those of us who are overweight or have nutritional needs that require us to limit our intake of sugar I find it useful to have access to recipes that still have great taste and limit the sugar intake. The young generation just getting started is mostly overweight and low on movement, I can treat my nieces to an eggnog freeze and not be increasing their sugar intake at the same time. So, yes I agree that we should exercise to take off unwanted weight, but I also think we should all have access to great eggnog recipes that satisfy our taste buds.
My friends usually start bugging me to make some eggnog freezes about the time the weather starts heating up above 70 degrees. The rich taste makes a great way to end a barbecue menu that includes hot dogs and hamburgers. I do make my freezes with the low calorie eggnog so that I can limit the calories for the after dinner treat. With the addition of fresh berries and an occasional banana I have them requesting this healthy sweet instead of heavy pies or candybars.
Enjoy this summer by adding eggnog to your families menu and know that you are adding great nutrition and taste that they will request through out the year!
My friends usually start bugging me to make some eggnog freezes about the time the weather starts heating up above 70 degrees. The rich taste makes a great way to end a barbecue menu that includes hot dogs and hamburgers. I do make my freezes with the low calorie eggnog so that I can limit the calories for the after dinner treat. With the addition of fresh berries and an occasional banana I have them requesting this healthy sweet instead of heavy pies or candybars.
Enjoy this summer by adding eggnog to your families menu and know that you are adding great nutrition and taste that they will request through out the year!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Old Eggnog Recipes
I love to search through old out of print recipe books and when I find the eggnog recipes our forefahers used I am doubly delighted! When I use recipes that the cooks developed in the late 1700's, 1800's and even then early 1900's I feel like I am part of a long line of cooks who wanted to feed their family and friends great food.
Eggnog recipes came over with the first European settlers. In England and other parts of Europe eggnog was the drink of the aristocrats, very seldom could the poor afford the rich ingredients. However, when the cooks emigrated to America they found that the ingredients were more available and they produced eggnog for holiday feasts. As people spread across the continent the recipes were adapted to available supplies and the individual tastes of the area. The creativeness of those early settlers gives us a bounty of great recipes.
It is fun to imagine President Lincoln being served an eggnog that Mrs. Lincoln had prepared for him. Or take a historic glance at how the southern Creole cooks prepared it for a party, and know that we can recreate these very foods for our guests and family.
Most of the old recipes used uncooked eggnog and alcohol of one sort or another. Therefore, in todays cooking we should remember that pregnant women and children should not be served these drinks because they are more susceptable to salmonella poisoning. There has been some scientific studies on the effects of alcohol reducing the salmonella bacteria in eggnog, but I would still be very cautious. So, explore and enjoy the richness of eggnog!
Eggnog recipes came over with the first European settlers. In England and other parts of Europe eggnog was the drink of the aristocrats, very seldom could the poor afford the rich ingredients. However, when the cooks emigrated to America they found that the ingredients were more available and they produced eggnog for holiday feasts. As people spread across the continent the recipes were adapted to available supplies and the individual tastes of the area. The creativeness of those early settlers gives us a bounty of great recipes.
It is fun to imagine President Lincoln being served an eggnog that Mrs. Lincoln had prepared for him. Or take a historic glance at how the southern Creole cooks prepared it for a party, and know that we can recreate these very foods for our guests and family.
Most of the old recipes used uncooked eggnog and alcohol of one sort or another. Therefore, in todays cooking we should remember that pregnant women and children should not be served these drinks because they are more susceptable to salmonella poisoning. There has been some scientific studies on the effects of alcohol reducing the salmonella bacteria in eggnog, but I would still be very cautious. So, explore and enjoy the richness of eggnog!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Old Eggnog Recipes
Exploring all of the possibilities about eggnog is one of my favorite joys. This dovetails into another of my favorites which is old books. Researching through ancient books in the dusty corner of shops sometimes reveals the delightful find of an out of date cookbook. Imagine my surprise when I found that this one was the recipe collection of Mrs. Lincoln!
I am fairly positive that a Presidents wife will not be in my kitches, but her recipes are welcome. Looking at how our ancestors used the ingredients at hand to benefit their families is an instructional glance at history. What was she thinking when she made her eggnog? Did she make it to help the President get needed nurishment during a busy day or was it a late night treat for the tired man?
Eggnog recipes are one way to look at our past. The food our ancestors ate made it possible for them to continue doing all of the important things in their lives. The eggnog recipes show us how they used the same ingredients that we have available to us today but sometimes in unusual ways. Thank you Mrs. Lincoln for letting me find your eggnog recipe!
I am fairly positive that a Presidents wife will not be in my kitches, but her recipes are welcome. Looking at how our ancestors used the ingredients at hand to benefit their families is an instructional glance at history. What was she thinking when she made her eggnog? Did she make it to help the President get needed nurishment during a busy day or was it a late night treat for the tired man?
Eggnog recipes are one way to look at our past. The food our ancestors ate made it possible for them to continue doing all of the important things in their lives. The eggnog recipes show us how they used the same ingredients that we have available to us today but sometimes in unusual ways. Thank you Mrs. Lincoln for letting me find your eggnog recipe!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Eggnog Smoothies
On mornings when I am in a rush or just need something that is refreshing but filling I fix myself and my family an eggnog smoothie. With the recent reports on vitamin pills possibly being unhealthy and our desire to lead an additive reduced lifestyle eggnog smoothie are a nutrious and easy addition to our diets.
Most of the foods we consume on a regular basis are filled with preservatives and other added chemicals. While these keep the food from spoiling on its way to our tables I am concerned with the possibility that they may be harmful to our long term survival. We are being encouraged by the news media to eat more organic foods and cut down on our exposure to these chemicals. Many of these foods added sodium to entice our taste buds raising our over use of salt. It is difficult to control our contact with these chemicals if we eat boxed or ready made meals. Homemade eggnog is additive free.
Eggs and milk are two of the most inexpensive ways to add nutritional value to our lives. In the current economic crisis we are all looking for ways to trim our budgets. Fast food dollar menus may seem to be a great buy and they definitely speed up our mornings, but they are loaded with useless calories that are helping to drive us to an overweight epidemic. The sodium levels in most fast foods far exceeds the recommended daily allowance which in turn is increasing our likely hood of an early death by heart atack or stroke.
Homemade eggnog is quick and easy to make. In just a few minutes a couple of times a week you can create eggnog and keep it in your refrigerator to be available for use whenever you need it. You can control the calorie content by the judicious use of low fat milk and alternating the sugar with other natural sweetners. With the addition of berries or a banana you boost the nutrional value and the rich creamy taste will leave you full and satisfied. Cheers to a healthier life style!
Most of the foods we consume on a regular basis are filled with preservatives and other added chemicals. While these keep the food from spoiling on its way to our tables I am concerned with the possibility that they may be harmful to our long term survival. We are being encouraged by the news media to eat more organic foods and cut down on our exposure to these chemicals. Many of these foods added sodium to entice our taste buds raising our over use of salt. It is difficult to control our contact with these chemicals if we eat boxed or ready made meals. Homemade eggnog is additive free.
Eggs and milk are two of the most inexpensive ways to add nutritional value to our lives. In the current economic crisis we are all looking for ways to trim our budgets. Fast food dollar menus may seem to be a great buy and they definitely speed up our mornings, but they are loaded with useless calories that are helping to drive us to an overweight epidemic. The sodium levels in most fast foods far exceeds the recommended daily allowance which in turn is increasing our likely hood of an early death by heart atack or stroke.
Homemade eggnog is quick and easy to make. In just a few minutes a couple of times a week you can create eggnog and keep it in your refrigerator to be available for use whenever you need it. You can control the calorie content by the judicious use of low fat milk and alternating the sugar with other natural sweetners. With the addition of berries or a banana you boost the nutrional value and the rich creamy taste will leave you full and satisfied. Cheers to a healthier life style!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Eggnog for Weight Control
Are you overweight? Are you underweight? Everyone has a diet issue. Our media portrays men and women as these body perfect images that we should strive to look like. Well, most of us do not have personal trainers or eight hours a day to put into shaping our perfect bodies. We are stuck with what DNA and our eating habits have dealt us. No matter what the control problem issue is we do need to take good nutrition as a key to what we eat. Good nutrition keeps us active and healthy and poor nutrition drives us to being tired and ill. Eggnog is one of the easiest and safest ways to supply needed vitamins, minerals, and protein to our diets and its recipes can be altered to fit the needs of the individual.
Eggnog contains a tremendous amount of vitamins such as Vitamin A and B12, is a natural source of D. It is high in protein and contains a wealth of calcium. By making homemade eggnog you create this creamy nutrtious food source and can keep available for you and your families use. A quick glass for breakfast will help send you out the door ready for an active day and you won't find yourself needing a candy bar half way through the morning because your energy is lagging.
I looked at low fat breakfast foods and found that a majority of them were high in sodium. Our over use of salt is a concern because it can contribute to high blood pressure which might lead to a heart attack. As I am getting older being slightly overweight and having high blood pressure most of the low fat breakfast foods were not a good alternative for me. By changing eggnog recipes low fat milk and sugar substitutes and then blending the results with fresh berries in the morning I had an easily fixed solution. I am losing weight and my blood pressure is down.
Friends tell me that their teenage daughters will grab a glass of eggnog for breakfast before they dart out the door in the morning. They are delighted to know that their children are starting the day in a healthy way.
Eggnog contains a tremendous amount of vitamins such as Vitamin A and B12, is a natural source of D. It is high in protein and contains a wealth of calcium. By making homemade eggnog you create this creamy nutrtious food source and can keep available for you and your families use. A quick glass for breakfast will help send you out the door ready for an active day and you won't find yourself needing a candy bar half way through the morning because your energy is lagging.
I looked at low fat breakfast foods and found that a majority of them were high in sodium. Our over use of salt is a concern because it can contribute to high blood pressure which might lead to a heart attack. As I am getting older being slightly overweight and having high blood pressure most of the low fat breakfast foods were not a good alternative for me. By changing eggnog recipes low fat milk and sugar substitutes and then blending the results with fresh berries in the morning I had an easily fixed solution. I am losing weight and my blood pressure is down.
Friends tell me that their teenage daughters will grab a glass of eggnog for breakfast before they dart out the door in the morning. They are delighted to know that their children are starting the day in a healthy way.
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