Year of Faith: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Eggnog

Year of Faith

January begins the fourth installment of our Year of Faith. This is where once a month I highlight a saint that has been listed on the USCCB Saints for the Year of Faith.The month of January is dedicated to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Saint Elizabeth was born August 28, 1774. Elizabeth was raised in a wealthy household, her father was a doctor. Her mother died when she was only three years old.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

At nineteen she married a wealthy businessman. Ten years later she was a penniless widow. Her husband’s business went under and he soon died of tuberculosis. Left to raise five young children on her own she converted to Catholicism in 1805. To take care of her family and their education, she opened a school in Boston. Soon the Archbishop asked her to go to Baltimore and start a school there. This started the first parochial school system in the United States. She founded the Sisters of Charity to help run the place.

She died on January 4^th 1821 of natural causes.  In honor of her, I decided to make an old fashioned favorite, eggnog.

Colonial Custard

Colonial Custard

1 quart of milk
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Heat the milk in a double boiler.

In another bowl whisk together eggs and sugar.

When the milk reaches 120 degrees add a bit of milk to the egg mixture to temper it. (this helps to keep the eggs from scrambling)

Now add the egg mixture to the double boiler milk.

Continue stirring until the mixture reaches 180 degrees. Strain the hot mixture through a sieve just in case you scrambled a few eggs. Add the vanilla.

Serve warm or chilled. If you like, add some rum or Jack Daniels.

You could sprinkle it with cinnamon like I did.

Refrigerate leftovers.

Peace be with you,
Veronica

Copyright 2013 Veronica Gantley