"The Christianas, and the Stemming, and the Potsing, and the Schussing" in the SNOW! With Tom and Jerry Batter!

A movie I love to watch every year is White Christmas, with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, and Danny Kaye. It's corny and a bit sappy, but I just love several scenes, especially when they are traveling via train, and a scene of a smorgasbord in the middle of the night in a ski lodge. I actually stayed at such as lodge 40 years ago. I think there are quite a few Hallmark movies out that attempt to recreate that cozy, wonderful feeling of being able to get up at 2 a.m. to wander down to the great room with its roaring fire and snack spread, snug in your flannel granny gown.

In the train scene, Bing's character is talking about skiing, before they launch into a lively song about "Snow." He speaks of  "The christianas, and the stemming, and the potsing, and the schussing" and "hot buttered rum, light on the butter." The "christianas" et al are all skiing moves, and who doesn't recall at least the Lifesaver flavor of Buttered Rum? 

"Snow" in White Christmas

There is another Yuletide drink that has almost disappeared, except in a few select areas, and that is the Tom and Jerry, basically a hot version of eggnog. No wonder it fell out of favor: There are a lot of steps to making it. If you go "junking" or antiquing, you might have run across a bowl and cup Tom and Jerry set, usually in Christmas colors and motifs. It's actually a BATTER/glop that contains raw eggs, used to flavor brandy and rum (or bourbon if you prefer), and here is an old recipe for it. Teetotalers such as myself can use hot milk in place of the water and alcohol:

Tom and Jerry Cocktail

Ingredients:

6 eggs, room temperature, separated
1/2 teaspoon cream tartar
1 cup superfine sugar
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream
hot water
rum
nutmeg for garnish

To Make:

• Separate the eggs.
• Beat the whites along with the cream of tartar until they are a soft meringue.
• Gradually add the superfine sugar (can use regular granulated, too)
• Continue beating until stiff meringue forms (but not totally "dry").
• Place the meringue into a large mixing bowl.
• Using the same mixing bowl that you mixed the meringue in, add the yolks and 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
• Beat until light yellow and the consistency of frosting.
• Add the spices. Mix for another 1 minute.
• Fold the yolk mixture into the egg white mixture; don't stir, just fold
• Using a clean mixing bowl to whip the cream with the remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Fold into the egg mixture.
• Fill a cup with hot water and 1 ounce of rum (or heated milk to fill the mug)
• Top with a scoop of Tom and Jerry.
• Garnish with a little nutmeg.
• Serve (refrigerate leftovers).
• Enjoy!