Best & Worst Eggnog

Best Eggnog to Buy (and the Worst)

See which eggnog brands ranked highest in our taste test, and which are better left on the supermarket shelf

As much as we applaud your good-intentioned enthusiasm in wanting to make everything yourself this holiday season, when it comes to items like eggnog, there's no shame in turning to the supermarket for help.

Click here to see the Best Eggnog to Buy (and the Worst) Slideshow

Although it's not difficult to make at home, eggnog is one of those products that is easy to check off your shopping list. The only hitch? Making sure you pick the right brand. Reach for the wrong carton in your dairy aisle and you might wind up with something that tastes more like thin, banana-bubblegum-flavored milk, rather than that creamy, lightly spiced drink you were anticipating.

Click here to see 25 Favorite Winter-Weather Drinks Slideshow

Knowing that "added stress" wasn't on your Christmas wish list, eight Daily Meal editors tested popular eggnog brands to see which are best (and which you might want to leave on the supermarket shelf). Our taste test criteria? We considered texture (does it have the desired creamy thickness?), flavor (is there a hint of holiday spices?), color (is it more yellow or white?), and level of sweetness (not too cloying, please). What's more, we conducted a second round of testing that mixed in a little dark spiced rum to help determine which tasted best with a spirited addition.

Check out the results below - the brands are listed best to worst (scores are based on a 100 point scale).

The Results

© Jane Bruce

6. Trader Joe's Premium Egg Nog
*Best Value*
Nutrition: 180 calories, 9g fat, 20g carbohydrates per serving (1/2 cup)
Tasting Notes: "Thick texture, with good spice flavor." "Too thick, like melted ice cream but not necessarily in a good way." "Not too sweet." "Thicker, more noticeable nutmeg flavor, same opening chemically-custardy flavor." "Banana flavor." "Good creamy texture." "Tastes much better with rum."

© Jane Bruce

5. Turkey Hill Grade A Eggnog
Nutrition: 190 calories, 9g fat, 23g carbohydrates per serving (1/2 cup)
Tasting Notes: "Very banana-y, kind of custardy." "Tastes like ice cream base." "Nice, not too sweet, vanilla-y." "Very average, thick, yellow." "Tastes spiked already." "Strong nutmeg, good egg flavor, creamy."

© Jane Bruce

4. Organic Valley Organic Eggnog
Nutrition: 180 calories, 10g fat, 18g carbohydrates per serving (1/2 cup)
Tasting Notes: "Lots of nutmeg, good consistency, creamy but not cloying." "Thick, heavy cinnamon and nutmeg flavors." "Spice overwhelms." "Thickness, weight, and texture is rich." "Has Christmas spices flavor." "Sweetness offset by strong notes of allspice and nutmeg, goes well with rum."

© Jane Bruce

3. Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Egg Nog
Nutrition: 220 calories, 9g fat, 25g carbohydrates per serving (1/2 cup)
Tasting Notes: "Well-balanced flavor and aroma - easy drinking." "Good spices, maybe a little sweet, good texture." "Melted ice cream, slightly nutty." "Sugar cookie flavor." "Milky white color, tastes like a cannoli." "Slightly thinner consistency but tasty!"

© Jane Bruce

2. Hood Golden Egg Nog
Nutrition: 180 calories, 9g fat, 20g carbohydrates per serving (4 ounces)
Tasting Notes: "Rich and creamy but not too sweet." "Kind of like crème anglaise, but chilled." "Has a definite vanilla milkshake quality." "You want to keep drinking this." "Tastes homemade." "Great with rum."

© Jane Bruce

1. Ronnybrook Eggnog
*Best Overall and Best for Spiking*
Nutrition: Approximately 210 calories, 9g fat, 23g carbohydrates per serving (8 ounces)
Tasting Notes: "Very thick and well balanced, spice notes are subtle." "Creamy, rich." "Best with rum." "Tastes like what I think eggnog should be." "Happiness."

I'll actually be skipping the eggnog and opting for a glass or two of the bubbly stuff and I know my girl Cara over at The Champagne Diet will be bustin' out the bubbly as well!  Cheers & Merry Christmas.  It's Shaping Up to be a great holiday.
http://shapeupwithsusan.com

Diamonds vs. Mud with Joanne King Herring

Yesterday I had the pleasure of listening to an amazingly engaging Houstonian.  As keynote speaker at the HNN Business Expo, Joanne King Herring (the real life Texas socialite behind the movie "Charlie Wilson's War") illuminated the room with her physical beauty and vibrant storytelling.

Ms. Herring made a lot of very good points, and had the entire room laughing out loud more than a time or two; but this is what impressed me the most.  Someone in the crowd asked her how she stays so positive and to paraphrase, her reply went something like this.

She said that she gets up every day and counts her blessings first, before she even thinks about her troubles.  She said that if you get in the habit of doing this, you'll soon realize just how many blessings you really do have.  She referred to her blessings as "diamonds" and her troubles as "mud" saying "Now why would you have so many beautiful diamonds and then want to throw mud all over them?"  I don't know if it's because I love diamonds or hate mud, but this little quote will be permanently etched in my brain.  So simple yet so eloquent.

I purchased her book "Diplomacy & Diamonds" and was fortunate enough to get it signed by her.  I'll post my review when I finish reading it, but something tells me that it is going to be a very good read indeed.

So Shape Up Your Attitude & learn a lesson or two from this inspirational, charming yet formidable Southern Belle.

http://shapeupwithsusan.com

10 Healthy Breakfasts in 10 Minutes or Less

Who says breakfast has to be boring or a laborious undertaking? These beautiful, healthy breakfasts can be made in 10 minutes or less. There are tons of research studies showing why breakfast is important, but I've broken it down to these top 10 reasons.

1. HEALTHY EATING HABITS – It is well established that people who eat breakfast consume less fat and cholesterol and more vitamins, minerals, and fiber than people who skip breakfast.
2. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT – the National Weight Control Registry reported that people who eat breakfast have an easier time managing their weight than people who skip breakfast.
3. PORTION CONTROL – In general, people who eat breakfast have an easier time controlling their caloric intake throughout the day than those who don’t.
4. REDUCED RISK OF DIABETES – A report by the American Heart Association showed that people who eat breakfast are significantly less likely to develop diabetes than people who skip breakfast.
5. MORE ENERGY – A healthy breakfast can provide your body with the nutrients that you need to stay energized for several hours.
6. FITNESS – It is believed that people who eat breakfast have more energy and therefore may participate in more physical activity than people who skip breakfast.
7. FOCUS – According to the American Dietetic Association, people who eat breakfast have an easier time focusing and are more productive throughout the morning than people who skip breakfast.
8. MEMORY – Eating breakfast improves memory and learning.
9. BETTER MOOD – Skipping breakfast can make you feel grumpy and fatigued throughout the day. Taking just 10 minutes to eat something in the morning can really improve your mood.
10. BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL – Help your children to develop healthy eating habits at an early age by encouraging them to eat breakfast. If they see you eating breakfast, they are more likely to eat breakfast too.

Slow cooking oats or steel-cut oats with kiwi, mango, banana, green grapes, and honey

Organic flax waffles with warm peanut butter, banana slices, and chopped walnuts and a glass of 1% milk

Sesame Ezekiel toast with reduced fat cottage cheese, tomato slices, and parsley garnish

Tofu scramble with red peppers, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms….and tofu.

A classic: peanut butter and jelly on an English muffin (or toast or mini whole wheat bagel)

Breakfast bruschetta: French baguette with scrambled eggs, thin layer of reduced fat cream cheese, diced cherry tomatoes, and fresh parsley

Mini whole wheat waffles with mango chunks, honey, and powdered sugar

Whole wheat toast with scrambled eggs (or egg whites/substitute) with fresh sauteed spinach, provolone cheese, and marinara dipping sauce

Fruit bruschetta: organic chocolate cherry bread (from Whole Foods) topped with honey roasted peanut butter, fresh cantaloupe, strawberries, honey, and powdered sugar

http://shapeupwithsusan.com