Some Mid-Week Christmas Cheer

Ye gods.

The weather has disrupted my theory of final-week Christmas shopping density. With Christmas falling on a Thursday and last-minute shoppers having three make-up days to catch up after realizing they can't possibly get it all done on the final weekend, it should have been an easy one this year.

However, with most of the final-weekend-before getting wiped out by the snowstorm, final stage holiday preparation insanity has been pushed to near maximum intensity.

Which means that, this year, George Washington's eggnog recipe may be a better aid than ever for helping you through…

• 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.