Tom & Jerry Batter

• 5 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup brandy, warmed
• 1 cup dark rum, warmed
• 1 tsp quality vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• Warm Whole milk and coffee (Some people substitute hot water, but coffee and milk add an unreal dimension)

In a large, clean bowl, beat the egg whites. Add the powdered sugar gradually, beating until the whites begin to form stiff peaks. In a separate bowl, beat the yolks, vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg until combined. Carefully fold the yolk mixture into the egg whites.

Serve each drink by placing half a shot of brandy, half a shot of rum, and as much warm milk and coffee into the mug as you like. Top with frothy egg batter, garnish with fresh grated nutmeg and serve.

Serves 10.

VERDICT:  For lifting a random recipe off of the Internet, these turned out to be surprisingly easy to make and surprisingly good to drink.  It took some experimentation to come up with the right proportions of milk to booze, but this ended up being warm and spicy and festive.  (We did not put coffee in, because that is not a proper Tom & Jerry, and we also neglected to warm the rum and brandy, which I don't think mattered at all.)  Probably a once-a-year drink, if that, but keep nonetheless.

Note: I froze some of the batter, and so far, it seems to be working just fine to scoop it right from the freezer into the cup of warm milk and alcohol.