I grew up with nog at the holidays so it's essentially part of my holiday DNA. Buying Silk Nog or other pre-made nog is a shortcut, but here's a homemade vegan nog recipe from Oh She Glows that is actually healthy! (No strange fillers or texturizers.) Even if it doesn't resemble the nog you know, think of it as a festive holiday smoothie.

VEGAN NOG

Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients:

1/2 large avocado, pitted and frozen

1 large banana, peeled and frozen

1 can of full-fat coconut milk (400ml), chilled in fridge

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1/4 of a fresh lemon)

1.5 cups almond milk

1/2 cup pure maple syrup (*I used agave nectar)

1-3 tsp ground nutmeg (to taste, add gradually)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8th tsp ground cloves

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon stick, for garnish

1/4 cup-1/2 cup Bourbon (optional of course!), to taste

Directions: Pit and freeze the 1/2 of an avocado and peel and freeze the large banana prior to making this recipe. Add the liquid ingredients into a blender and blend for about 10 seconds to mix. Now add in your frozen and dry ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust spices and liquids if necessary. You can adapt it to how you’d like it! Makes 6 cups. Serve with a cinnamon stick (optional). Serve immediately.

Note: This will not keep long, so please make it just prior to serving and serve (cold) immediately.

*Image by OhSheGlows (http://wwohsheglows.com/2010/12/18/vegan-nog-classic-and-peppermint)