RUM FOR EGGNOG RECIPES

Steps:

• Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl with 100g/3½ oz of the caster sugar until the mixture is pale yellow and thick (this is best done with an electric handheld mixer).
• Stir in the milk, double cream, and the rum and/or bourbon. You can add a little grated nutmeg as well, if you like your nog this way.
• Pour the mixture into two 750ml/1½ pint bottles with stoppers and store in the fridge for up to two weeks. (The alcohol will prevent any spoilage of the eggs or cream.)
• Place the egg whites in a box and freeze until ready to serve the egg nog.
• When ready to serve, defrost the egg whites into a clean metal or glass bowl. Using a handheld electric mixer, whisk the egg whites until foamy and opaque. Add the remaining 50g of sugar and whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed.
• Pour the egg nog from the bottles into a large bowl and fold in the egg whites until well combined. Ladle the egg nog into glass tumblers and serve with a little freshly grated nutmeg over the top of each glass.

Steps:

• Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl.
• Heat the milk and 3/4 cup of the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the liquid starts to steam; remove from the heat.
• Whisk about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, then pour the milk-egg mixture back into the saucepan. Return the saucepan to medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon and a thermometer reads 165 degrees F, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat, and stir in the vanilla and nutmeg. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl, and let it cool at room temperature until it is no longer hot, about 1 hour. Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours up to 3 days.
• When ready to serve, whip the remaining 3/4 cup cream with an electric mixer in a large bowl to medium peaks. Then, while whisking, slowly pour in the cold milk-egg mixture. The eggnog should be creamy and thicker than heavy cream. Serve with a light sprinkle of nutmeg and lemon zest if using.