25 Comments

It’s not Christmas without eggnog. Love this piece. The boozier the better says my husband the eggnog maker. He says the “nog” cooks the eggs 🤣

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I’m with your husband! 🤣

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Dec 7, 2021Liked by Jolene Handy

I love that you have guests! And I love that there are more of YOU out there!! The writing, the photos, the old cookbooks, the nostalgia, the history...good stuff as always. Happy and Merry to you Jo and all your readers!!

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English needs a plural you-s! It's been such a pleasure to connect with Jolene, and explore her newsletter :) LOVE what shes' doing here!

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And right back at you, Alison! 🤗

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Thank you, Donald! I’ve met so many really nice people here on Substack, makes it even more fun to share and collaborate! ❤️

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Never had eggnog in my life, but I like Vov. This is the brand name of a liqueur made from eggs with 17.8% alcohol content. The name VOV derives from the Venetian dialect word vovi (= eggs). I guess zabaione is the eggnog's Italian version.

On the Wikipedia, I also found an entry about the Eggnog Riot: "The Eggnog Riot, sometimes known as the Grog Mutiny, was a riot that took place at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, on 24–25 December 1826. It was caused by a drunken Christmas Day party in the North Barracks of the academy. Two days prior to the incident, a large quantity of whiskey was smuggled into the academy to make eggnog for the party, giving the riot its name.

The riot eventually involved more than one-third of the cadets by the time it ceased on Christmas morning. A subsequent investigation by academy officials resulted in the implication of 70 cadets and the court-martialing of 20 of them and one enlisted soldier. Among the participants in the riot—though he was not court-martialed—was future Confederate States President Jefferson Davis."

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Yikes! Thanks, Gianni, this history is so interesting. I’ve made zabaione with egg yolks, sugar and Marsala as a dessert, but I don’t think we can buy VOV here (I need to research) is it similar to the dessert?

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The shocking truth, dear Jolene, is that I've never had zabaione in my life. Can you believe it?

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Sacrilege! 😂

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Oh my! Truth is stranger than fiction.. This is a great story. Thank you for sharing!

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Another really fabulous, beautifully written post filled with precious memories! I’m also not a big eggnog fan, but the recipe sounds delicious—and an intriguing addition to a cup of coffee!

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Alison’s storytelling is so charming and the recipe does sound wonderful, Ruth. And how about that eggnog set? ❤️

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OMG! So special! It's the kind of holiday ware that makes you want to throw a party.

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Agreed!

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My eggnog coffee each morning is the perfect beginning for a writing day... it makes the month of December!

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Love that!

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Good choice! I love this eggnog recipe and have been enjoying for celebrations for years.

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Looks so good!

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Good to hear, Kate :)

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I am not a fan of eggnog but this story (more than the recipe, ha!) has *almost* convinced me I may need to revisit it...

Great post, Jolene and Alison!

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Thanks, Sarah! Love the *almost 😂

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do you have a recipe for Tom & Jerry's? That's a holiday tradition in Sun Valley, Idaho, where I use to live and my former mother-in-law made the best I've ever tasted! And just like egg nog, it comes with its own mixing bowl and mugs. Yumm!!

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I am looking it up as we speak, Jan! Thank you!

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Looks so good! It was Alison’s attic, now I want one! Thanks, Amy! 🤗

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