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Wednesday, December 2, 2020

"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? 

screenshot of snow song in white christmas movie with bing crosby
"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!

10 comments :

  1. We watch all the old Christmas movies every year and that is the top of the list! I knew Tom and Jerry was a drink but never knew what it was. Don't think I will try it. I loved buttered rum life savers we use to get in the book of life savers in our stockings each year. Those books are pitiful now but I still get my daughter one each year.
    Cathy

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  2. I have seen this movie and love it! I love a lot of the old movies! Thank you for sharing the eggnog recipe. I have never heard of Tom and Jerry drink before! Stay safe and warm!

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  3. I am so happy you both love White Christmas, too! So sweet a movie but with a lot of heart! For some reason, the Tom and Jerry drink is still quite popular in southern Oregon. I have not seen it elsewhere within the past 30 years. It isn't here, but we have regular eggnog and Ponche Navideño, which is a nice punch. I'll put up a recipe in the near future.

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  4. White Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie. It is a tradition to watch it every year. My son watched it a couple times last year as well. I know this "snow" scene well, and it's one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

    ~Sheri

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  5. During that same number you see the bartender pouring a creamy white drink do you know what that is? I don't think it's the Tom and Jerry that you spoke if-If never heard of it either I thought cristianas were a kind of beverage or pastry it sounds so pretty

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  6. For years and years I've tried to find out what Christianas were , thank you! Also those are my two most favorite scenes in White Christmas too.🎄💗

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  7. This is my favourite Christmas movie for 55 years! Thank you for this reference!

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  8. I always thought Bing was talking about "planting" during that train scene...LOL! This was definitely one of the more memorable moments from White Christmas. The ending, when the camera pulls away after the big finale always leaves a tear in my eye.

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  9. I thought Bing was talking about "planting" when he mentioned stemming, potsing, etc. Being from Hawaii, ski terms are somewhat alien to me. This was definitely one of the more memorable moments in White Christmas. I also love when the camera pulls away after the grand finale. It always leaves a tear in my eye...

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  10. christianas are a basic skiing turn.

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