Apple Custard Bars Food

CUSTARDY APPLE SQUARES

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan.
• Slice the apples from top to bottom using a mandoline, Benriner or a sharp knife, turning the fruit as you reach the core. The slices should be about 1/16 inch thick-elegantly thin, but not so thin that they're transparent and fragile. Discard the cores.
• Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a small bowl.
• Working in a large bowl with a whisk, beat the eggs, sugar and salt together for about 2 minutes, until the sugar just about dissolves and, more important, the eggs are pale. Whisk in the vanilla, followed by the milk and melted butter. Turn the flour into the bowl and stir with the whisk until the batter is smooth. Add the apples to the bowl, switch to a flexible spatula and gently fold the apples into the batter, turning everything around until each thin slice is coated in batter. Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top as evenly as you can-it will be bumpy; that's its nature.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until golden brown, uniformly puffed- make sure the middle of the cake has risen-and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.
• Using a long chefs knife, cut the cake into 8 squares in the pan (being careful not to damage the pan), or unmold the cake onto a rack, flip it onto a plate and cut into squares. Either way, give the squares a dusting of confectioners' sugar before serving, if you'd like.

APPLE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees F.
• Butter an 8 x 8 baking dish.
• Roll apples in sugar until they are coated evenly. Place apples close together in prepared dish.
• Using a blender (or use electric mixer) mix together the remaining ingredients (milk- almond extract) and pour over apples. Sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired.
• Bake for 30- 40 minutes or until apples are tender. Custard will finish setting while apples are cooling.

BAKED APPLE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Melt butter (or margarine) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add apple slices and saute for 1 minute.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook 1 minute longer.
• Reduce heat to low, uncover and let apples cook until light brown (3-5 minutes). Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 325-degrees F.
• Butter 6 custard cups (or butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish).
• In a bowl, whisk eggs until thick. Add sugar and salt and beat well.
• Blend in milk (or half and half) and vanilla.
• Pour custard into prepared custard cups.
• Set custard cups into large shallow baking pan.
• Add enough boiling water to pan so water comes up halfway up sides of cups.
• Bake for 1 hour or until a knife inserted in center of custard comes clean. (If using the casserole dish bake for 1 1/2 hours).
• Remove cups from water and let cool to room temperature.
• Top each custard with 4 (reserved) overlapping apple slices.
• Refrigerate until cold or overnight.
• Sprinkle with nutmeg before serving.