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But why is the eggnog gone?
One of the best things about the holiday season is the abundance of eggnog. You can get it at any coffee shop, grocery store, convenience store. Want some? It’s easy to find! And it’s just the thing for washing down twelve kinds of Christmas cookies.
But sooner or later the tinsel and lights come down and there are only crumbs on the plate where the cookies used to be and the eggnog is gone. Then the holiday season is officially over. No wonder people get depressed in January. Fine, the holidays are over. But why is all the eggnog gone?
I think, instead of trying to shove Christmas in before Halloween to stretch it out (and prolong the Season of Nog), we should drag it out through January. Bakeries should keep those platters of mixed cookie varieties out for sale and eggnog should flow, possibly mixed with a generous slug of rum. Hey, it’s January. It’s cold.
I’m serious about this, though. There’s such a frantic rush to Christmas and then nothing much happens but winter for a couple of months. Instead of trying to cram everything into November when some of us just want to enjoy the cranberries and have a few turkey sandwiches after the big feast instead of being shoved out to shop or be hopelessly behind, let it draw out on the other side. Send winter cards in January.
To a degree, we do this year round with presents. Instead of making a huge deal of birthdays and Christmas, we like to give our daughters little things year round as they need them. A new book, crayons, a pair of mittens. Socks. Toddlers love mittens and socks. They don’t get overwhelmed by too much at once and neither do we.
This spreads the feeling of something new or unexpected, that rich feeling of gift-giving, throughout the year instead of bunching it up and putting maybe too much pressure on any given holiday. That way we are free to focus on what holidays are really about: the food. Okay, the food and family. Being with the people we love puts the sprinkle of fresh grated nutmeg on the eggnog of life with a dot of whipped cream.
Christmas happens too fast. Life happens too damn fast, in fact. I blink and it’s rushing past too fast to see. My toddler got up one morning a pre-schooler. My baby is turning into a toddler. Another blink and they’ll be in school full time. What to do? Carpe nogum. Seize the eggnog, the moment, the day, the season. Drink it to the last drop and go back for more.
In the coming new year, I propose less frantic seasonal activity and more year-round celebration. And most of all, leave the eggnog in the dairy case because it’s bad enough that January’s coming. We shouldn’t have to face it without eggnog in our coffee.
I’m with you on the eggnog. I’ve been known to make it at home in the middle of summer because I <i>loooove</i> the stuff. (It’s not that difficult… a couple eggs, milk, cream, a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg… whisk together and serve. :)
But… that requires <i>work.</i> :p
I’ve actually never had any—have to give it a try next Christmas!
I’ve never had eggnog, either – for some reason I always associate it with advocaat, which it blatantly isn’t (actually I didn’t know what eggnog was, but thanks to the comment by Nonny, I do now). Advocaat was the one drink that used to appear on the table every Christmas, probably the same damn bottle for ten years…
But seriously, I agree with you, Charlene. Christmas and New Year squidge together as one and then there’s nothing until Easter apart from a few bank holidays (in the UK). January isn’t that bleak for me because it contains my birthday, but February… we always get the worst weather then, everything’s grey and misreable and blah. There should be some sort of mid-February festival to cheer everyone up.
Nonny, I’ve made my own eggnog, too. Not that difficult if you use a blender!
Jerri, give it a try! It’s one of the best things about the holiday season. You can also get eggnog milkshakes and eggnog lattes. : D
Olivia, I bet the UK in winter is about as dark as it is here (I live near the northwestern most point in the US).
Ahhhh, eggnog. We always get a couple of the smaller bottles to keep in the fridge throughout the holiday. But you know what’s absolutely the BEST?? Eggnog ice cream! We’ve got a state-wide dairy in Oklahoma (Braums) that makes it’s own ice cream, and every year eggnog rolls through right around Thanksgiving time…YUM!!!
Terri
Oh, how did I forget eggnog ice cream? You’re right, Terri, it’s the bomb. Especially on top of pecan pie!
I’ve never tried eggnog. Something about the thought of drinking eggs and milk makes me a little queasy. :)
But Amanda, it’s pastuerized! No bacteria.
I can’t handle eggnog, but my DH and kids love the stuff.
I always stash whatever I can at the end of December for them to enjoy into January. Just as long as I don’t have to drink it!
I’m trying to be positive about January this year. I sent Christmas cards, but maybe I’ll try winter cards later in the month!
We’re sending out winter cards. : D I knew there was no way it was happening in Nov. or Dec. so I didn’t stress myself out trying.
Would some dear sweet person (Nonny?) post a recipe for eggnog? I made cheat’s eggnog from a recipe I found in a magazine, but it was basically advocaat and cream which from the above list of ingredients I’m thinking is wrong wrong wrong.
The first time I tried an eggnog latte I thought it must have been invented just for me.
Imogen, I buy a product like Egg Beaters (liquid egg, comes in a carton like milk but it’s pastuerized; I wouldn’t recommend making eggnog with raw eggs), mix it with half and half, a teaspoon of vanilla and nutmeg to taste in a blender and there you go.
Blech! But I love you anyway, so much you can have my eggnog and my cranberries.
XOXO
Woohoo, more eggnog lattes for me! Happy New Year, Lauren, and may we have the most boring year in weather ever! We’ve earned it.
Thanks Charlene! No, raw egg sounds as if it might be yucky. I’m not sure I can get liquid egg in a carton, though. Pasteurised powdered egg, yes – maybe that would do if you mixed it with milk and cream?
Anyway, thank you!
Immi
December goes WAY too fast every year…suddenly it’s the new year. Amazing how that happens. No eggnog for me though, never quite got the taste for the stuff. But I am a good 7 pounds heavier due to the treats everywhere!! Ack!!
Imogen, not sure it would work with powdered egg unless you added water to reconstitute it first. Oh, and I forgot to mention you should add sugar!
Jordanna, what are New Year’s resolutions for if not to balance holiday excess? ggg
I remember my mom making egg nog from raw eggs when I was little (yeah, back in the dark ages before all the bacteria scares). It was the best. I’ve never tried it with Eggbeaters. Just may have to do that.
And I haven’t stepped on the scale yet to see what the damage is…guess it’s just as well there are no more Christmas goodies at the bakery ggg
I agree — everything seems to go by so much more quickly! It’s like life has been put on fast-forward.
I love eggnog — but it doesn’t love me. My stomach can only handle small doses at a time…which is just as well, considering I have to constantly watch my weight. :(
Btw, eggnog milkshakes are fantastic! :D
Natasha, you can probably avoid the scale until spring. g I put mine in the closet, decided how my clothes fit and how I feel is more important.
Meg, I love eggnog milkshakes!
You know, I never had any eggnog this year. Somehow, I managed to miss it with everything else happening. Now, I’ll have to wait until next year.
I think that winter cards are just the thing. :-)
gasp You missed the eggnog? That’s what happens when you have 3 books out in December.
And winter cards are the bomb. ; )
I loooooove eggnog. I think I’m the only one in my family that does, so I get it all. Bwahahahahaha!
Seriously though … one thing that I enjoy the Christmas season is the hustle and bustle leading up to it. To me its a challenge to have everything ready, the house decorated, the presents bought and wrapped. As far as getting little gifts for the children all year round? I do that anyway with the Little Darlin’. I really don’t think that I’d like the holidays stretched from the month of December to the end of January and beyond. Once the season is over, I can sit back, take a deep breath and concentrate on other matters.
Besides … if bakeries continued to sell those Christmas cookies after January 1st, everyone will think they’re the leftovers and groddy tasting. LOL.