Light Lemon Custard Food

SIMPLE LIGHT LEMON CUSTARD

Steps:

• Combine eggs, lemon rind and sugar in a saucepan on medium heat.
• Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent clumping, until mixture becomes well combined and light yellow.
• Add in light margarine and lemon juice, keep whisking and cooking for about 5 minutes.
• Set aside, let cool before serving.
• Mixture will thicken even more when cold.
• Enjoy on top of cakes, pies, fruit, ice cream -- or on its own!

LEMON CUSTARD FILLING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or double boiler combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Mix well. Beat the egg yolks and water together, then whisk into sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and butter. Cover with plastic wrap until completely cooled.

LEMON CUP CUSTARD

Steps:

• Put the milk and the lemon zest in a saucepan and bring just to the boil. Remove from heat, cover and set aside. Let sit for 30 minutes in order for the lemon flavour from the zest to infuse the milk.
• Whisk the eggs together with the sugar. Strain the infused milk through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup. (Reserve the strainer with the lemon zest for a bit later)Whisking the whole time add the infused milk to the beaten eggs a little at a time in order to keep the eggs from cooking. Strain the mixture through the reserved lemon zest in the strainer back into the pan. Stir in lemon oil if using.
• Place 6 large (3/4 cup size) custard cups in a large shallow roasting pan. Divide the custard mixture between cups. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water just until it comes halfway up the sides of the custard cups.
• Carefully, place in a pre-heated 160*C/325*F oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until they jiggle only in the centre when you tap the cups lightly. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

NO-BAKE LEMON CUSTARDS WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine cream, sugar, lemon zest and salt over medium-high heat. Bring to simmer, stirring frequently to dissolve sugar. Simmer vigorously until mixture thickens slightly, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Let sit until mixture has cooled slightly and a skin forms on top, about 20 minutes.
• Stir mixture, then strain through fine-mesh strainer into a measuring cup with a spout; discard zest. Pour mixture evenly into six 6-ounce ramekins or small bowls.
• Refrigerate, uncovered, until set, at least 3 hours.
• As the custards chill, prepare the strawberry topping: Toss strawberries and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Let fruit macerate at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until the sugar is dissolved.
• To serve, top each lemon custard with some strawberry topping and grind black pepper on top.

LIGHT LEMON CUSTARD

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin over wine in small bowl. Let stand 10 minutes to soften.
• Whisk eggs and sugar to blend in heavy small saucepan. Mix in nonfat milk then lemon juice and peel. Stir over medium-high heat until mixture thickens slightly and just come to boil. Remove from heat; immediately mix in gelatin mixture. Stir until gelatin dissolves. Divide custard among four 1/2-cup ramekins or custard cups. Chill until set, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.)Garnish each with lemon slice and mint sprig and serve.

MARGARET ATWOOD'S BAKED LEMON CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter six 3/4-cup custard cups or ramekins. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, and lemon peel in large bowl to blend. Beat in egg yolks. Stir in flour in three additions alternately with buttermilk in two additions. Stir in lemon juice. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in medium bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold egg whites into yolk mixture. Divide batter among prepared cups. Place ramekins in roasting pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups.
• Bake until cakes are set in center and beginning to brown, about 35 minutes. Remove ramekins from water bath. Serve hot or cold. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely, cover, and refrigerate.)

LEMON CUSTARDS WITH LEMON VERBENA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine first 3 ingredients in medium saucepan. Boil until mixture is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 4 minutes. Add sugar; simmer until mixture is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 3 minutes. Stir in cream. Whisk yolks to blend in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture. Whisk in lemon juice.
• Strain custard through sieve into 4-cup measuring cup. Divide among six 2-cup ramekins or soufflé dishes. Cover ramekins with foil. Place ramekins in 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins.
• Bake custards until just set, about 45 minutes. Remove pan from oven; let custards cool in water in pan. Transfer ramekins to refrigerator. Chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve chilled.

CHEF JOHN'S LIGHTER LEMON CURD

Steps:

• Place a saucepan containing several inches of water over medium heat and bring water to a simmer.
• Place eggs into a metal mixing bowl and add sugar and lemon juice. Place bowl over pan containing simmering water and whisk continuously until mixture foams and becomes thick, hot, and smooth, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from the heat; whisk in lemon zest and unsalted butter. Continue whisking constantly until butter melts and incorporates into the lemon curd. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, pushing the plastic wrap onto the surface of the lemon curd. Refrigerate until chilled and lemon curd has set up, at least 1 hour. Stir before serving.

LEMON CUSTARDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Place eight 6 oz.
• ramekins in a deep baking pan.
• Put the yolks, eggs, and sugar in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
• Stir in the lemon juice and the cream.
• Pour the mixture through a very fine mesh strainer, then ladle into the ramekins.
• Place the pan with the ramekins into the oven, then fill the pan with hot water about half-way up the sides of the ramekins.
• (It's easier to fill the pan when it's already in the oven).
• Cover the pan lightly with aluminum foil and bake for about 50 minutes.
• You can tell they are done when, if you gently shake the pan, the sides are firm but the center of each ramekin, about the size of a quarter, is still jiggly like jello (not liquid!).
• That's okay- I promise.
• That means they are perfect.
• Do not overcook, or your custard will taste like scrambled eggs.
• Remove the custards from the water bath and refrigerate overnight, but for at least 6 hours.
• As they chill, they will completely firm up.
• Before serving, let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• I like to serve these with a crisp cookie, like a gingersnap.