Help for the Last Minute Christmas Shopper Courtesy of George Washington

For the second year in a row, I predict more mayhem than usual for last-minute Christmas shoppers. Christmas this year falls on a Tuesday, meaning that all of the slackers who waited until the last weekend before starting their shopping (I've heard that such people exist) are going to realize within the next 48-hours that they have only Monday as a buffer, if they can't finish up everything they need to do by Sunday. The result will be both more intense shopping activity than usual during the weekend-proper, and an entire sum of week-of-the-holiday shopping desperation packed into a single day before Christmas.

From this point forward, for help in surviving the commercial aspects of the Christmas season, I recommend the eggnog recipe favored by the First President of the United States, George Washington…

• One quart cream
• One quart milk
• One dozen tablespoons sugar
• One pint brandy
• 1/2 pint rye whiskey
• 1/2 pint Jamaica rum
• 1/4 pint sherry

Mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add liquor to mixture drop by drop at first, slowly beating. Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.

Er, after re-reading the recipe, let me be sure to be clear: I am only recommending the frequent tasting of our first President's eggnog recipe after a safe return home from your Christmas shopping!