Last couple of months I noticed pumpkin flavored everything in the stores. When I saw pumpkin moisturizing cream, it reminded me of the paper I’d written years ago on oat bran for my marketing class at university. Back then oat bran was hailed as being fabulous for one’s health. How it ended up in shampoo and everything else besides oatmeal, was the marketing geniuses at work. Back to pumpkin; I did actually indulge in some pumpkin flavored items like instant oatmeal and pancake batter (the latter was so delicious) in October and November. I also incorporated it into some of my cooking and baking. Now it’s eggnog season, pumpkin is so last month, and I’m beginning to see some items like ice cream (one from Trader Joe’s is really, really good), gelato and cookies. I’m wondering what else will be now eggnog “flavored”. Donuts? Hair gel? Deodorant?
Anyway, all my kids happen to love eggnog. I buy it pre-made from a couple of stores/brands but it’s hard to get it without high fructose corn syrup and preservatives. It’s also costly since I usually end up getting the organic one by default (sans other ingredients I’m avoiding). I’ve told the boys we’re going to make some, but I keep putting it off.
Well, my eldest son asked for French toast the other day, “made with eggnog”. I used about 1/3 cup with one egg, sprinkle of cinnamon, dash of sugar and pinch of salt. Cooked on a lightly buttered saute pan over medium/medium-high heat until golden. Topped it with some warm buttered maple syrup*. He loved it and since there was a little mixture left, I had one too. He had a great idea! So, maybe eggnog won’t go the way of oat bran or even pumpkin, but we’ll be indulging in the next few weeks while it’s around. Think I’ll try some in my baking.
*Warm Buttered Maple Syrup: I learnt this tip from the restaurant business. Add a pat of butter to 1/2 cup of maple syrup (we only use the real stuff) and heat it in the microwave for 40 seconds until the butter melts. Stir and serve on pancakes, waffles, French toast, etc.
Pancake with warm buttered maple syrup
(didn’t have a photo of the eggnog French Toast)
