Louise T. Guinther

I have nothing against college football on January 1. I like the Rose Parade as much as the next guy; in fact, I hardly ever miss it — at least as much of it as is left by the time I roll out of bed. There are always one or two good dragons made all out of flowers, and the sweet old-fashioned rose-covered cars and horse-drawn buggies are particularly appealing. Once the games start, we move on to the sight of my sister hauling all our knickknacks and stuffed animals out of storage to act as mascots for her favorite teams.

But I confess that the bowl I am most interested in on New Year’s Day is the eggnog bowl. The eggnog bowl is big and round and welcoming. Its contents are rich and smooth and frothy on top. No one gets hurt in the eggnog bowl. Not only are there no concussions or broken bones, there are hardly ever even any hangovers! This is because the eggnog itself coats your stomach even as you imbibe, fortifying your body even as it lifts your spirits and soothes your soul.

So by all means dig out any toy critter that could pass for a Texas Longhorn, a Nittany Lion or a Wolverine, but take my advice and replace the usual beer with a cup of homemade nog (recipe below). It will give you that warm, fuzzy eighth-day-of-Christmas feeling, and it will make the long runs, spectacular catches and Hail Marys even more exciting and miraculous than before.

Grandmother Randolph’s Eggnog (I don’t know whose grandmother she was, but while I’m drinking this concoction, I’ll gladly claim her for my own.) Serves 12.

Ingredients: 12 eggs, separated; 1 cup sugar; 1 1/2 cups bourbon; 1/2 cup brandy; 1/4 cup peach brandy; 1 1/4 tsp. nutmeg; 1 1/2 quarts milk

Instructions: DAY BEFORE: Beat egg yolks with sugar until thick and lemon-colored. Add bourbon, drop by drop, blending full between additions. Repeat with brandy and peach brandy. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. DAY OF: Pour yolk and booze mixture into a punch bowl. Stir in milk and nutmeg. Beat egg whites until they hold soft peaks and fold into nog. Lightly sprinkle a little extra nutmeg on top.