Get Hygge with homemade Eggnog

Forget the holiday scury, grab a cuppa Hygge EggNog (recipe included), reflect. Shift is happening are you in?

Nov 27, 2023

As we say goodbye to November (well, almost), December offers the ideal opportunity to reflect on the past year and set new goals for the upcoming one. We're not talking about fleeting New Year's resolutions, that dissipate like water in the desert.

I understand that many of you are busy stressing and scurrying about, ticking off gift items from seemingly never-ending loved ones lists. Since, the element of surprise is no longer, consider holiday shopping on Amazon or Etsy, place your purchases in an affordable dollar store holiday bag and be done with it! Now, brew a cup of low carb Hyppge EggNog (recipe below) and allocate some time to contemplate how you envision the upcoming year to unfold. I think I just heard your sigh of relief that someone just gave you permission to take a break from the madness!

Certified Mind Body Specialist

Let me unwrap my exciting news! I'm thrilled to announce I have received my certificate in the mail (took forever), and I'm now officially a Certified Mind-Body Specialist. What's more, I achieved a perfect 100% score in this course, a personal accomplishment I take great pride in. I was determined to invest my full efforts into this course, facing numerous challenges along the way, including family members' hospital visits, critically ill clients, and the responsibilities of maintaining a motorcoach, oh, and two high maintenance cats (that were also my savings grace during this time).

Admittedly, the stress was at times overwhelming, and I felt the temptation to use my circumstances as a copout to just give up. Yet, I remembered a time when, as a single mum, I attended nutrition school, worked a full-time demanding brain-numbing job, balanced full time school hours, and ensured my daughter's ice skating schedule and competitions were met; all while sustaining a long-distance relationship. Reflecting on that journey inspired me to realize I could certainly do this as an empty-nester with two needy cats (and husband)!

This reflection was the catalyst for adding a new dimension to my practice in the coming year, complementing my Certified Somatic Intuitive Therapy qualification from over a decade ago. Through conversations with clients and people in general, I've observed patterns of emotions and behaviors that hinder them from reaching their full potential. This prompted me to ask myself, How can I make a difference? How can I assist in unearthing and releasing buried emotions to reduce physical ailments? After all, the mind influences the body, often storing unresolved issues in our organs, eventually leading to health crisis.

Love this?

Share Karen's Adventures

Class A Recipe

I loved Eggnog growing up. The problem is, Eggnog does not agree with me. Fortunately, I've discovered a good low-carb alternative that seems to be gentle on the stomach.

Why Hygge?

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish concept centered around the art of creating a sense of warmth, coziness, and contentment in your surroundings, finding joy and comfort in life's simplest, everyday moments. Whether you're sipping a cup of EggNog by the fire or enjoying a good book in a soft, warm blanket, hygge is about cherishing the small pleasures that make life meaningful. Now is this not the perfect experience for getting into a visionary mood to inspire an incredible new year?

If you've been following me for a while, you're aware that I make my own nut milks. I haven't found a store-bought product that can match the taste due to the thickeners and stabilizers they use. If you're looking to save some time, Milkadamia Unsweetened Macadamia or Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk may be suitable options, although they do contain a tiny bit of thickening agents there is no carrageenan which studies show can lead to IBD. Personally, I'm still not fond of the taste, but others seem like it.

I have also made the switch from Swerve to Allulose due to negative health claims. Wholesome Yum Besti Powdered Allulose Sweetener has proven to be a good replacement. If you use Madagascar Grade A Ground Vanilla Beans you are in for a groovy mouth treat over vanilla extract.

I tried making the Eggnog with coconut milk and and it did not have the same velvety mouthfeel that the whipping cream did. So, for this recipe I am using the whipping cream.

If you decide to substitute coconut milk for whipping or heavy cream; be sure to check the ingredients to avoid paying more for thickeners. It's frustrating, but it's the world we live in. Wouldn't it be amazing if you actually received what you paid for?

For those making your own almond or macadamia nut milk, add either almonds or macadamia nuts (or a combination- hey, live on the edge) to 4 cups of water.

1 cup raw almonds, soaked for 4 hours to overnight, rinsed well or,
1 cup raw macadamia nuts; no soaking required or,
1 cup hazelnuts; no soaking required

This will result in a richer nut milk for your Eggnog.

Low Carb Hygge EggNog

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Total time (including chilling): 3-4 hours or overnight (even better)
Makes 4 small or 2 large servings

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened nut milk
1 cup organic whipping cream or heavy cream
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, plus a pinch for garnish
1/4 tsp nutmeg freshly grated, or ground nutmeg, plus more for garnish
1/8 tsp or a healthy pinch allspice + a pinch for garnish
1 tsp Madagascar Grade A Ground Vanilla Beans, or Madagascar vanilla bean extract
2 tb powdered allulose sweetener or to taste (substitute with your own sweetener of choice)
3 egg yolks, from pastured raised hens
1 cinnamon stick + more for garnish (2-4 sticks)

Add 1 cup nut milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, pinch of allspice 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cinnamon stick to a large saucepan and simmer over lowest heat for about 8-10 minutes to infuse the flavors, stirring often to ensure it does not boil or create a skin. Remove from heat and set aside.

Meanwhile have one small bowl and one large bowl big enough to accommodate the warmed cream. Carefully tap the egg against a flat surface, such as the edge of the bowl. You want to crack it gently to avoid breaking the yolk.

Hold the egg over the small bowl with the cracked side facing up. Use your thumbs and fingers to gently open the egg into two halves. Allow the egg whites to flow into the small bowl.

Transfer the yolk from one half of the eggshell to the other by carefully shifting the yolk back and forth between the two halves of the eggshell, letting the remaining egg whites fall into the small bowl. Be gentle to avoid breaking the yolk.

Once you've successfully separated the yolk from the egg white, place the yolk in the large bowl. Do the same for the remaining 2 eggs.

To the 3 egg yolks add 2 tablespoons of powdered allulose. Using a whisk or an electric mixer, beat egg mixture until the powdered allulose has dissolved. Set aside.

Remove the cinnamon stick from the warmed cream in the sauce pan, set aside. You will use it again.

Slowly, drizzle the hot cream into the egg mixture while whisking. You want to do this slowly so that you do not cook the egg (meaning, you do not want scrambled eggs!)

Pour the contents from the bowl back into the sauce pan, add the cinnamon stick you just removed, and heat over low heat for about 8-10 minutes, or until your mixture reaches 160°F, stirring often, and coats the back of a spoon. It will slightly thicken.

Pour into a glass jar, cover and refrigerator to chill 3-4 hours or overnight.

The eggnog will continue to thicken while chilling. Give it a good stir right before serving. If it is too thick, add a little almond milk to thin, but you shouldn’t have to, as it should be a little thick and velvety.

Serve with a tiny pinch of nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice and a cinnamon stick, get a little Coorie and Hygge going and enjoy the moment.

If you enjoyed this week’s post and have not subscribed subscribe now and welcome to the community! Here is a special button just for you.

If you want to share the excitement with others, please do so.. if I could give you a low carb candy cane for your efforts, I would..but it is the thought that counts, right?