Happy 2015 {Grandma Buhler's Eggnog}

For some reason or another, New Year's Eve has always been filled with family traditions.

Growing up, there was a New Year's Eve party with my dad's side of the family.  I always looked forward to it. It was a chance to see cousins who lived in Texas--we only saw them once a year.  It was a chance for shooting pool in my dad's aunt's garage.  It was a chance to shoot tons of fireworks at midnight.

A couple of years ago, my mom & dad brought back the family party.  It was one of the best New Year's Eves ever.  I met cousins for the first time.  Caught up with an aunt I hadn't seen in decades.

This party also resuscitated an old family recipe for eggnog.  Grandma Buhler's Eggnog.
Let's just get this out there: eggnog is not something I look forward to for the holidays.
Eggs and I have a weird relationship.

Grandma Buhler's Eggnog is more sugar and nog than egg, so it appeals to me.
(Except for the meringue topping...I can't get past the smell of raw egg)

So...it all started as a simple thing.
I just wanted to check the spelling of Grandma Buhler's name.
It led to an entire afternoon of climbing the family tree.

* My dad's family has lived in New Orleans since the 1840s

* Parts of my family came from other cities in Louisiana: Thibodaux, Madisonville

* Parts of my family come from other states: Georgia & Mississippi

* My great, great, great grandfather, Peter Anton Buhler, was born in 1825 in Altkrautheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.  He was the first in the line to immigrate to New Orleans.

* One of my great, great grandfathers wrote a book about the part of New Orleans I am from: The Story of Algiers 1718-1896.

* It turns out that my son's middle name can be traced back to an ancestor (although not on purpose), Gabrielle Antoine, born in 1864.

My dad and his mom, probably 1953

Print It!

Grandma Buhler's Eggnog

3 eggs (separated)
1 cup sugar + 12 tsp. sugar
3 cups milk
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
1 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla extract + dash
1/4-1/2 tsp. nutmeg
bourbon or whiskey

Mix 1 cup sugar and egg yolks together in large pot. In another pot, heat evaporated milk, milk, and water together, but do not boil. Add nutmeg and a dash of vanilla extract to liquid. Add 1/4-1/3 cup bourbon or whiskey. Once liquid is hot, remove liquid from heat and place the egg/sugar mixture over the heat. Add a little of the liquid at a time to the egg and sugar mixture. Heat mixture, but do not bring to a boil.

Topping:
Beat egg whites until they become stiff and make peaks. Add 1 tsp. vanilla and slowly add 12 tsp. sugar while continuing to beat eggs.

Serve with a scoop of topping over eggnog. Spike with additional bourbon or whiskey.


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