Some History on Egg NogDid you know that over 300 years ago you could only have egg nog if you were part of the upper class in Britain? Perhaps the most famous Christmas drink, egg nog is made of eggs, milk, sugar and spices. Hundreds of years ago, only people belonging to the higher class could afford milk, sugar and eggs, which is why not just everyone could enjoy a glass of this delicious drink.

It is said that a glass of egg nog was used by the upper class to give thanks to good health. And how did this drink get its funny name? Nope, it is not because an egg looks like a head, what you might have heard is also called a noggin. It is believed that the name egg nog came about because it contained eggs and was served in a wooden mug known, in the olden days, as a noggin.

Traditional Egg Nog

2 eggs 230 mL sugar 2 tbsp10 mL vanilla extract 2 tsp 2 mL ground nutmeg ½ tsp2 mL ground cloves ½ tsp1¼ L whole milk 4½ cupspinch ground cinnamon pinch

Pour milk into a large sauce pan 1. on medium heat.Using a wooden spoon, gradually 2. stir in sugar.

In a small glass bowl, beat eggs.3. Whisk eggs into the ingredients 4. in the saucepan.Add vanilla, ground nutmeg 5. and cloves.Cook over medium heat, stirring 6. constantly for 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats a metal spoon.Remove from heat. Cover and 7. chill in the refrigerator for eight hours.Pour into mugs and sprinkle with 8. cinnamon. Top with a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy!!!

pressNOV/DEC 2008eggsthe

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Christmas Candy WagonWhat you need:

egg carton•Christmas garland•2 two-inch styrofoam balls •painted and cut in halfgreen, red, white, silver, •gold and blue craft paint craft glue•cardboard paper•3 small Christmas •tree branches small Christmas-•like craft items (reindeer, stars, tree bulbs, etc.)Christmas candies•

Cut off the egg carton lid and 1. paint it in desired colours. Glue the garland all the way 2. around the sides of the egg carton.With and adult’s help, cut each 3. of the two styrofoam balls in half to look like wheels. Using lots of glue, place two wheels on each side of the egg carton where you would normally see wheels placed on a car. OR, cut cardboard paper into the shape of sleigh runners, and paste these along the edge of the egg carton instead. Glue the small tree branches and 4. other festive decorations around the garland. You can even glue a crafty Santa in the front of the wagon.Fill with Christmas candies or 5. anything festive. Place your wagon on display.

Christmas Cookies375 mL butter, unsalted 1½ cups250 mL sugar 1 cup2 eggs 2 10 mL vanilla extract 2 tsp1 L all-purpose flour 4 cups2 mL salt ½ tsp

In a metal bowl, mix butter 1. and sugar together until well combined. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. 2. In a separate bowl, stir salt and 3. flour together using a wooden spoon. Add flour mixture a little bit at 4. a time (about 125 mL or ½ cup each time) into the egg mixture.

Mix together until all 5. ingredients are well combined. Cover and chill at least 6. 4 hours.On a floured surface, roll dough 7. to ½ cm (⅛ inch) thick.Using Christmas cookie cutters, 8. cut out shape.Place cut outs on a lightly 9. greased cookie sheet 2.5 cm (1 inch) apart.Bake at 180° C (350° F) for 8 to 10. 10 minutes.Let cookies cool and then 11. decorate with icing and sprinkles.

Need an icing recipe? Check online at www.eggs.ab.ca.

The Eggspress is a monthly newsletter for kids! It features interesting egg facts, egg-speriments, recipes, tricks, puzzles, crafts, jokes and other egg-citing activities. Although these activities are targeted to kids, we recommend involving an adult helper for double the fun. To sign up for this monthly newsletter in pdf format, just email eggspress@eggs.ab.ca.

Yokes of the Month:Q. Why did the egg hide?A. He was a little chicken.

Q. What did the evil chicken lay?

A. A deviled egg!

Q. Why can’t you tease egg whites?

A. They can’t take a yolk.

Egg Facts:How do you know if an egg is hard boiled?

Place the egg on its side and spin it around with your fingers. A hard-cooked egg will spin smoothly and rapidly. A raw egg will wobble and spin slowly because the liquid centre will prevent the egg from building up momentum to keep it turning.