Advent Activity #13 - Make Homemade Eggnog and Cookies

Make homemade eggnog and Chocolate Cookies ... the kids were super excited!

Eggnog

Description:
This eggnog is a custard style eggnog. The ingredients (except for the cream) are slowly cooked on the stove top. This is great for those of you who are hesitant to eat raw eggs (especially for young children).

Ingredients:
4 eggs
3/4 c sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 qt milk (that's 4 cups)
3 tsp. vanilla
1 c. heavy whipping cream (I leave this step out many times to lower the calories)
nutmeg (this is added as desired to each glass)

Directions:
In small bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and salt until combined. In saucepan, heat milk until hot; remove. Add 1 cup milk to egg mixture, stirring constantly. This is to help warm the eggs up so that you don't have scrambled eggs with milk!

Pour egg/milk mixture back into saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. You will know the mixture is done when you dip a metal spoon into the mixture and then drag your finger across the back of it. . . you should be able to leave a "path". This takes about 5 minutes.

DO NOT BOIL or OVER COOK. If you over cook the eggnog, the milk will separate from the egg mixture. . . I have done this! Don't worry, you can blend it in a blender and it will turn out fine. . . it is much better if you don't over cook it the first time!  Editor's Note - Dec 2010 - cook the mixture until it reaches 75 degrees C (or nearly 175 degrees F) with a candy thermometer.

After you have cooked it until you can make a path with your finger on the back of a metal spoon, add the vanilla. Place saucepan in a bowl filled with ice water; stir occasionally until cool. Refrigerate until cold, 2 hours.

Before serving, beat cream until soft peaks form, and then fold into eggnog. Refrigerate. Serve with nutmeg

Makes 6 cups

Number Of Servings: 6 cups

Preparation Time:10 minutes cooking, 3 hours cooling (or overnight in fridge)


Chocolate Mint Cookies
Description:
These are SO yummy! My friend Nora C from IL brought these over to us for Christmas just before Kerst was born.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 pkg mints, Andes (4.67 oz) chopped
1 cup vanilla baking chips

Directions:
Mix all ingredients

375 degrees for 8-10 minutes

Number Of Servings:Makes 3 dozen