Caramelized Winter Fruit Custards Food

CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, cook and stir 3/4 cup sugar over low heat until sugar is melted and golden. Pour into eight 6-oz. custard cups, tilting to coat bottom of cup; let stand for 10 minutes. , In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining sugar until blended but not foamy. Pour over caramelized sugar. , Place the cups in two 8-in. square baking pans. Pour very hot water in pans to a depth of 1 in. Bake at 350° until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks. , To unmold, run a knife around rim of cup and invert onto dessert place. Serve warm or chilled.

JULIA CHILD'S CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Increase the heat to high and cook, without stirring, until the syrup turns a light caramel color. Remove the saucepan from the heat and dip the bottom into cold water to stop the cooking. Pour the caramel into a 4-cup charlotte mold, and tilt so that it covers the bottoms and sides. Let cool.
• In a small saucepan, bring the milk and vanilla to a boil. In a heatproof bowl, beat the eggs, egg yolks and cup sugar until blended. Whisking constantly, pour the hot milk into the egg mixture; let rest for a few minutes, then strain. Pour the custard into the caramel-coated mold.
• Put the mold in a small but deep baking or roasting pan, and add hot water to come about two-thirds up the sides of the mold. Place the pan on the stove over medium heat, and bring the water to a simmer. Transfer the pan to the oven. (The water should stay at a low simmer at all times; do not let it boil or the custard will overcook.) Bake until a knife inserted into the center of the custard comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Keep the custard in the baking pan until the water cools. Remove from the pan to finish cooling. To serve, run the tip of a knife around the top of the custard to loosen it. Invert a serving platter over the mold and quickly turn it over again. Carefully remove the mold.

FRUIT CUSTARD BRULEE (ULTRA LIGHT)

Steps:

• For the custard: In a small saucepan thoroughly combine 2 tbsp of the sugar with the cornstarch. Add the milk and egg. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat just until the mixture begins to bubble. Do not overcook. Immediately pour the custard into a small bowl. Let mixture cool about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the sour cream into the custard. Add the vanilla. Cover and chill the custard for up to 24 hours.
• To serve: Divide berries evenly among four goblets or dessert dishes. Spoon chilled custard over the berries. (If necessary, thin the custard with a little milk before spooning over berries.) Set aside and prepare topping.
• Optional topping (I personally would not use): In a heavy small skillet or saucepan heat the remaining 2 tbsp sugar over medium high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking the skillet occasionally to heat evenly (do not stir). Reduce heat to low. Cook sugar until melted and golden, stirring as necessary with a wooden spoon. Quickly drizzle caramelized sugar over custard and serve immediately. (Note: The problem I found with this topping, is that it hardens to something inedible over the custard and has to be broken off and not eaten. The dessert is very enjoyable without the topping. I've included it, as it was part of the original recipe, but if someone else can find out a way to do this topping that works, let me know).

CARAMELIZED BAKED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Lightly grease a 1 quart baking dish or 4 ramekins.
• Fill a 9x13 pan (or any shallow pan large enough to hold the baking dish) with 1 inch of hot water and set it in the oven.
• **To caramelize the sugar: Melt the sugar in a heavy bottomed skillet without stirring. Swirl the sugar in the pan as it melts till caramel colored.
• Pour about 1 tablespoons caramelized sugar into each ramekin, or all into baking dish and quickly swirl around to coat bottom and partly up sides.
• The caramel will harden, but the custard will soften it as it bakes.
• Beat the eggs together, then add the sugar and salt.
• Slowly stir in the hot milk, stirring constantly.
• Add the vanilla and coconut, if using.
• Strain into the baking dish (if desired).
• I usually just pour it all inches.
• Sprinkle the top with nutmeg.
• Put into the pan with hot water.
• Bake for 55-60 minutes, until a knife comes out clean.

CARAMELIZED BAKED CUSTARDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a saucepan, heat cream and liqueur until bubbles form around sides of pan; remove from heat. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar until blended but not foamy. Slowly stir in hot cream mixture. Stir in vanilla., Place six 6-oz. broiler-safe ramekins in a baking pan large enough to hold them without touching. Pour cream mixture into ramekins. Place pan on oven rack; add very hot water to pan to within 1/2 in. of tops of ramekins., Bake 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean; centers will still be soft. Immediately remove ramekins from water bath to a wire rack; cool 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cold., To caramelize topping with a kitchen torch, sprinkle custards evenly with remaining sugar. Hold torch flame about 2 in. above custard surface and rotate it slowly until sugar is evenly caramelized. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour., To caramelize topping in a broiler, place ramekins on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Preheat broiler. Sprinkle custards evenly with remaining sugar. Broil 3-4 in. from heat 5-7 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 1 hour.

EASY CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix 1 tablespoon water into 1/4 cup sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium heat until sugar is completely moistened. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the sugar and water form a golden brown syrup, about 5 minutes. Do not stir. Remove from heat and let boiling subside. Carefully stir 1 tablespoon hot water into caramel syrup.
• Whisk milk and 5 tablespoons sugar together in a saucepan over low heat; heat just until warmed and sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and whisk eggs into milk mixture. Pour caramel syrup into an 8x8-inch baking dish. Pour egg-milk mixture over syrup. Place pan into a larger baking dish and pour enough water into outer pan to reach about 1/2 inch up the sides of the inner pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until custard has set, about 45 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes; chill in refrigerator before serving.