The 1450’s were a time of great upheaval in England. The Hundred Years War was in full stride and King Henry VI, being of shy and diminutive nature was unable to forcefully grasp the reins of power and along the way suffered a devastating stress induced nervous breakdown. Everyone around him saw that he was clearly unfit to lead. England was rapidly losing territory in France and at home law and order was breaking down among the masses, leading to much scheming, plotting and devising among the English nobles to fill the leadership void and perhaps even claim the Crown. Troubling times indeed!
It is in times such as these that we need comfort and reassurance and we have often times turned to our spiritual leaders to provide us with much needed solace. The monks of England, as always, were ready to assist and they offered up just the right prescription. For decades these English men of God had been concocting a drink they called posset. It was made from milk, eggs, spices and whatever booze they had on hand. They served it hot and they served it strong and it became a favorite of the nobles in their time of distress.
These nobles began to serve a beverage similar to posset during the Christmas season in order to toast their prosperity and to demonstrate to their guests their enormous wealth, power and generosity. Milk, cream, eggs, spices and sherry in abundance were a clear and unmistakable display of wealth. Those that were rich enough would even serve it to the tenants that worked the land. This may have been a two-pronged strategy; to share with those less fortunate and at the same time to remind them of their station. This beverage would have been served to the working classes in a wooden cup or scoop known as a noggin or nog. And thus, was born what would later become the American Christmas icon; Eggnog.
Eggnog became so popular in the new world that even George Washington published a recipe of his own devising. I hope you will try it this year, but please don’t drive after consuming.
One quart cream, one quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one pint brandy, 1/2 pint rye whiskey, 1/2 pint Jamaica rum, 1/4 pint sherry—mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.
Like many amateur cooks do when they write recipes, Brother Washington has left out a key component of his formula. Most learned and serious culinary historians such as myself agree that 12 eggs would transform this recipe into a creamy, rich and delicious holiday beverage. I have highlighted the key step; the one in which you should not skimp, ever!
Don’t be alarmed by allowing this to sit, if your alcohol content is above 20% and you store it below 40 degrees, science will take over and no harmful bacteria could possibly survive such an environment. The longer it sits, the greater the impact of science and the more tasty it will become.
All over America, families are busy in preparation for the Christmas season and the joy that accompanies this festive time of the year. Our spirits are filled with the anticipation of families reunited, the bounty of our feasts and the excitement of gift exchanges. Watching Hallmark Christmas movies, drinking hot apple cider, taking in the wonder of our neighbor’s holiday light displays, and reminding ourselves of the lessons taught in Dicken’s Christmas Carol all renew our spirits and rejuvenate our faith. For many, it is the best time of year and who doesn’t get excited about a visit from Saint Nicholas?
We spend a lifetime learning the lessons that are taught to us by the Christmas season. Most of us learn from a young age to deal with anticipation in the expectation of impending bounty which thus leads to dealing with disappointment, because as we learn early in life nobody gets everything they want. We come to understand the evergreen tree represents the promise of eternal life. We comprehend the Christmas story and the dire circumstances of the birth of Jesus as assurance that God favors no one because he favors all equally. But I think perhaps the most significant of all the lessons of the season is the one delivered mere moments after the historic occasion.
“…And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Dickens instructs us well in this notion in his Christmas Carol when Scrooge’s nephew enlightens his hard-hearted uncle thus:
“But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
We have just lost another great American with the passing of President George H. W. Bush. He lived his life with good will toward men. He longed for peace and he respected the office of President, the office whose dignity, decorum, and goodness were originally established by our first President.
Recently our current President said this about President George H. W. Bush:
“Thousand points of light. What does that mean? I know one thing. “Make America Great Again” we understand. “Putting America first” we understand. “Thousand points of light,” I never quite got that one. What the hell is that? Has anyone ever figured that one out? It was put out by a Republican, wasn’t it?”
There is no dignity, decorum or goodness in attacking a 94-year-old former President. There is absolutely no reason for it and it does nothing to move our country forward. In these comments there is no respect for the office of the President of the United States of America and it cannot be undone or unsaid with feeble attempts to be gracious upon the death of this American patriot. It is just sad. Reminds me of Henry VI.
What I want for Christmas this year is for our President to open his heart freely, and to think of people below him as fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys!
But I know no man can have everything he wishes for, so I will make me a double batch of Brother Washington’s eggnog, lift high my noggin and continue to hope that as a people we will find a way to embrace the great lesson:
…And on earth peace, good will toward men!
Peace on earth, good will to men