19 December, 2020
Tom & Jerry
Tom & Jerry
This is a classic holiday beverage that has been in the Long family for decades.
Ingredients
The Fluff
- 1 cup heavy whip cream
- 1 dozen egg whites
- 1 dozen egg yolks
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
The Tom & Jerry
- 1 part hot water
- 1 part rum
- 1 part fluff (Top it off with a huge dollop)
- Sprinkle with fresh ground nutmeg(or whatever, (I’ve sprinkled crushed toffee)
Instructions
- Whip the Heavy Whip Cream and a few pinches of the Cream of Tarter until it peaks. Mix in a third of the sugar and set aside.
- Whip Egg Whites and a few pinches of the Cream of Tarter until it peaks. Mix in a third of the sugar and set aside.
- Whip Egg Yolks and the rest of the Cream of Tarter until it peaks. Egg yolks won't be as fluffy as the whites. That's ok. just whip it until really think. Mix in a third of the sugar and set aside.
- Fold all together gently with a wood spoon without over mixing.Fluff Done!
Now for the drink, below…
Notes
A perfect Tom and Jerry is 1 part rum, 1 part hot water, topped off with a healthy dollop of fluff, and then, sprinkled with nutmeg or cinnamon or whatever else you can sprinkle.
The key to perfection is the “fluff”. It should be fluffy, light and creamy and not too sweet, flat or droopy.
This is a recipe in progress. I’ve experimented for years with various ingredients and procedures. I’ve tried marshmallow cream for instance, and that was just too sweet. The latest ingredient that I’ve experimented with is heavy cream. This proves to be the missing ingredient for lightness and longevity. The addition of whipped heavy cream has increased the longevity to 5 days or more. Without it, the fluff only lasts a day. It also adds serious lightness to the overall fluff appeal. You will know what I mean by “longevity” when you see your fluff separate after sitting in the fridge for more than a day. It will separate a bit. If you use the fluff after this point, it is not necessary or advisable to stir the bottom liquid into the floating fluff. Just stir the top fluff, then use that to scoop into the top of the Tom and Jerry drink. It is essential that the whites/yolks/cream do not mix prior to peaking. If you use the same bowl to mix, make sure to rinse and dry thoroughly between ingredients. Sweetness is a matter of taste. The fluffiness is the most important part of the Tom and Jerry experience, but, if you find that the fluff could use more sugar after the fluff is already folded together, it’s ok to add more sugar and blend it in. I’ve tried this and it does make the fluff less fluffy. But, if it’s not sweet enough, that’s probably worse. Here’s a video of what this drink looks like in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gigaG5iveso&feature=youtu.be
This is a recipe in progress. I’ve experimented for years with various ingredients and procedures. I’ve tried marshmallow cream for instance, and that was just too sweet. The latest ingredient that I’ve experimented with is heavy cream. This proves to be the missing ingredient for lightness and longevity. The addition of whipped heavy cream has increased the longevity to 5 days or more. Without it, the fluff only lasts a day. It also adds serious lightness to the overall fluff appeal. You will know what I mean by “longevity” when you see your fluff separate after sitting in the fridge for more than a day. It will separate a bit. If you use the fluff after this point, it is not necessary or advisable to stir the bottom liquid into the floating fluff. Just stir the top fluff, then use that to scoop into the top of the Tom and Jerry drink. It is essential that the whites/yolks/cream do not mix prior to peaking. If you use the same bowl to mix, make sure to rinse and dry thoroughly between ingredients. Sweetness is a matter of taste. The fluffiness is the most important part of the Tom and Jerry experience, but, if you find that the fluff could use more sugar after the fluff is already folded together, it’s ok to add more sugar and blend it in. I’ve tried this and it does make the fluff less fluffy. But, if it’s not sweet enough, that’s probably worse. Here’s a video of what this drink looks like in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gigaG5iveso&feature=youtu.be