Chili Corn Custard Squares Food

CHEF JOHN'S CREAMY CORN CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter six 6-ounce glass or ceramic ramekins. Set ramekins into a 2-inch deep baking dish.
• Place corn into a large saucepan and stir in cream, salt, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer and remove from heat; stir in milk.
• Transfer corn mixture to a blender and pulse several times to get the mixture moving. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy.
• Whisk egg yolks with eggs until smooth in a mixing bowl. Slowly whisk about 1/4 cup hot corn mixture into eggs until the corn mixture is incorporated. Repeat several times more until all the corn mixture is combined with eggs.
• Divide corn mixture equally into the 6 ramekins. Pour hot tap water into the baking dish to come about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake in the preheated oven until custards are just set, 30 to 35 minutes. Let custards cool for about 10 minutes before serving in ramekins or unmolding onto serving plates. To unmold, insert a knife between the custard and the ramekin, go around the edge with knife to loosen, and turn over onto a plate to unmold.

TEX-MEX CORN SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Lightly oil an 11 x 7-inch (2 L) baking dish.
• Bring stock and salt to a boil.
• Slowly whisk in cornmeal until mixture thickens.
• Bring to boil.
• Take off the heat.
• Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese and mix until melted.
• Spread in prepared pan and cover to keep warm.
• Combine beans, salsa, corn, chipotle peppers, chili powder and cumin in a bowl.
• Stir in remaining cheese (1 cup) and coriander.
• Spread mixture over cornmeal base.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes-- until heated through and cheese is melted.

CUSTARD SQUARES

Steps:

• Roll your sheets of pastry very thin. You are looking for 2 squares/rectangles that are approximately 30cm x 30cm each. Prick them well all over and then place on baking sheets (roll on baking parchment and then slide the whole lot onto the baking sheet for ease of use) and bake at 210C for 10 - 12 minutes (or until golden brown and cooked through). Leave the pastry sheets to cool while you make the custard.
• Put 2 Cups of milk into a pan with the butter and heat to melt.
• Mix the cornflour, icing sugar and eggs to a smooth paste with the remaining 1/2 cup of milk.
• Remove the milk and butter from the heat and whisk in the egg mixture then return to the heat.
• Cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens and then for a further 5 minutes, stirring constantly (a wooden spoon works well here). Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Leave the custard until cool.
• Place one sheet of pastry on a piece of baking parchment on a tray or board and cover with all the cool custard. Place the other pastry sheet on top and press down slightly until both sheets have adhered to the pastry.
• Sift the cocoa and icing sugar together, then stir in the milk to make a smooth, spreadable icing.
• Ice the whole lot with Chocolate icing and then place in the fridge for a couple of hours so that the whole thing is a little easier to manage. Cut into squares with a serrated knife and serve. Store any remaining squares in the fridge in an airtight container (don't worry, they won't last long!).

CHILE-CORN CUSTARD SQUARES

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add finely chopped onion and sauté until soft and beginning to brown, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Cool.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 8x8x2- inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in small bowl. Whisk egg, 1/3 cup cheese blend, 1/2 cup sour cream, creamed corn, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Add flour mixture; stir to blend. Stir in jalapeño and caramelized onions. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup cheese blend over.
• Bake until puffed and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool completely. do ahead Custard squares can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Cut into 1-inch squares. Place on platter. Top each square with dollop of sour cream, then small spoonful of salsa.