Holiday Eggnog

Photo: flickr user rick

Ingredients

4 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 quart milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup whipping cream

1 cup rum optional

Ground nutmeg

Preparation

In small bowl, beat eggs, sugar and salt until combined; set aside. In medium saucepan heat milk until hot; remove from heat. Add about 1 cup milk to egg mixture, stirring constantly. Pour egg-milk mixture into saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until finger leaves a path when drawn across the back of a metal spoon, about 5 minutes (between 150-175 degrees on a candy thermometer). Do not boil. Stir in vanilla. Place saucepan in large bowl filled with ice water; stir occasionally until

Before serving (up to 1 hour) beat cream until soft peaks form; fold into egg-milk mixture. Stir in rum, if desired. Refrigerate. Just before serving, pour into punch bowl or pitcher; sprinkle with nutmeg.