Meal and a Movie: Christmas Vacation

T, this one's for you.

Christmas Vacation is a boy movie. Sexist as that may sound, watch any of the Griswald flicks yourself and tell me if you think differently. The Cast: Chevy Chase as zany Clark who longs for a perfect Christmas (and the perfume counter girl), Randy "someone-forgot-to-take-his-meds" Quaid plays a version of himself, pre-Roseanne pre-Big Bang Theory Johnny Galecki is Rusty, and Beverly D'Angelo and Juliette Lewis provide the female leads Ellen and Audrey.

From the swimming pool fantasy a la Pheobe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High to the Wally World Moose Eggnog Mugs (yes, you can purchase them and celebrate along with the Griswalds), Christmas Vacation cleverly references other movies. And the house lighting scene is pretty funny. So it's got that going for it. But did they have to kill the cat?

While I cannot recommend eating an entire Christmas Vacation themed dinner while viewing this movie, I do endorse consuming hardy amounts of Eggnog and these Eggnog Balls (their creation was inspired by Chevy and the gang).

Eggnog Balls

1 cup white chocolate chips (about 6 ounces)

1 - 5 ounce can condensed milk

1/2 cup Kraken rum

1 - 11 ounce box Nilla Wafers

1 1/2 cup almonds

Fresh ground nutmeg and cloves

Powdered sugar

Melt chips and milk together in mixing bowl set over simmering water; stir constantly until smooth. Remove from heat. Whisk in rum. Process wafers and almonds until crumbed; add to liquid ingredients. Flavor with nutmeg and cloves and blend well.

Make balls using one tablespoon of mixture; roll balls in sugar to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate at least overnight and up to 1 week.