Ultimate Eggnog Trick

One day, trying to figure out how to lighten eggnog yet again (it's a complicated annual ritual around here), it occurred to me: Eggnog is virtually indistinguishable in makeup and flavor from melted vanilla ice cream. Why not just make it out of melted ice cream? More than a third of the calories in eggnog come from saturated fat—about the amount in 2 heaping tablespoons of butter. Add rum, bourbon, or brandy ('tis the season!), and you're into 400-plus-calorie range. Starting with full-fat ice cream wouldn't be much better. But I found I could shave 250 calories and 14 grams of sat fat by simply using light vanilla ice cream (we like Edy's Slow Churned Vanilla).

The Formula: Let 1/2 cup of light ice cream melt. Stir in 1 tablespoon bourbon and 1/2 tablespoon brandy, sprinkle with nutmeg, and garnish with cinnamon. Voila, a 150-calorie holiday treat.