Rich Chocolate Custard Food

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Fill a kettle with water and boil the water, turning the heat off when the water has boiled.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk to a simmer. Add the chocolate and the sweetener. Reduce the heat to low. Whisk until the chocolate and sweetener melt completely and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool a couple of minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and vanilla. Pour a tablespoon of the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, whisking vigorously. Keep pouring the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, very slowly, constantly whisking. This technique is called tempering and it helps make sure the eggs won't turn into scrambled eggs.
• Place four (4 oz) ovenproof ramekins in a rimmed baking dish. Pour the custard mixture (ideally through a strainer) into a measuring glass (just in case you have a few bits of cooked eggs in there). Pour the mixture into the ramekins. Pour the still-hot water that you had previously boiled into the pan so it comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins. This hot water bath insulates the custard from the direct heat of the oven and promotes even cooking, so the edges won't overcook before the center is done.
• Bake the chocolate custard, uncovered, until set, 25-30 minutes. Carefully remove the ramekins from the pan (they'll be very hot), place them on a cooling rack, and allow them to cool to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate the custard for at least 1 hour before serving.

RICH CHOCOLATE BAKED CUSTARD

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 1 quart baking dish or 4 ramekins.
• Preaheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Fill a 9x13 pan with 1 inch hot water and put it in the oven.
• Beat the eggs just enough to blend.
• Stir in the sugar, cocoa, and salt.
• Slowly add the hot milk, stirring constantly.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• Pour into the baking dish or ramekins and place in the pan with hot water.
• Bake 55-60 minutes until a knife comes out clean.
• It will firm up as it cools.

EASY CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Beat eggs and vanilla extract together in a medium bowl until combined; set aside.
• Whisk milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, brandy, and salt together in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling and thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
• Slowly pour 1/2 of the milk mixture into the beaten eggs while stirring; pour mixture back into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Do not boil.
• Let custard cool to room temperature, at least 10 minutes. Refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Bring cream and milk just to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk yolks and sugar in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Strain mixture into another bowl. Cool 10 minutes, skimming any foam from surface.
• Divide custard mixture among six 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Cover each with foil. Place cups in large baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake until custards are set but centers still move slightly when gently shaken, about 55 minutes. Remove from water. Remove foil. Chill custards until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)

RICH CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 350°.2. Heat half-and-half and chocolate chips in 1 1/2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth cool 5 minutes.3. Mix eggs, sugar and salt in medium bowl with wire whisk or fork. Gradually stir egg mixture into chocolate mixture until blended. Pour into eight 6-ounce custard cups.4. Place cups in rectangular pan, 13 X 9 X 2 inches, on oven rack. Carefully pour very hot water into pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of cups (see box, below).5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Remove cups from water. Serve custard warm or chilled with Sweetened Whipped Cream. Store covered in refrigerator.NUTRITION FACTS: 1 Serving: Calories 290 (Calories from Fat 155) Fat 17g (Saturated 9g) Cholesterol 130mg Sodium 135mg Carbohydrate 29g (Dietary Fiber 1g) Protein 6g % DAILY VALUE: Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 8% Iron 6% DIET EXCHANGES: 1 1/2 Starch 1/2 Skim Milk 3 FatFrom "Betty Crocker's Complete Cookbook, Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today, 9th Edition." Text Copyright 2000 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

VERY CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine sugar, milk, salt, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer. Place the egg yolks into a small bowl. Gradually stir in about 1/2 cup of the hot liquid. and return to the saucepan. Heat until thickened, but do not boil. Remove from the heat, and stir in the chopped chocolate until chocolate is melted. Pour into a chilled bowl, and refrigerate for about two hours until cold, stirring occasionally.
• When chocolate mixture has completely cooled, stir in the cream, and vanilla. Pour into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Beat the eggs with the salt, half the sugar, the vanilla, and the almond extract.
• Heat together the milk, cream, chocolate, and the remaining sugar on medium-low heat until the chocolate has completely melted. Stir with a whisk to blend.
• Combine the two mixtures and pour into a well buttered baking dish. Place the dish in a pan of hot water and bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour: a knife inserted in the center should come out clean.
• Cool in the baking dish, then unmold and chill in the refrigerator. Serve this amazing concentration of chocolate with great quantities of sweetened whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE SPONGE WITH HOT CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Cover the dates with boiling water and set aside to soften for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and line a 20 x 30cm baking tin with baking parchment. Drain the dates, reserving the liquid, then whizz the dates to a purée with 100ml of the soaking liquid.
• Beat the egg whites in a large bowl with an electric whisk until stiff peaks hold on the end of your whisk. Add half the sugar and beat until thick and glossy.
• In another bowl, beat the yolks and remaining sugar until pale. Whisk in the mashed date mixture, then fold into the egg white mixture until well combined. Mix the flour, baking powder and cocoa with a pinch of salt. Sprinkle over the wet mixture and very gently fold in until well combined. Gently scrape into the tin and spread to the edges. Bake for 35-40 mins until a skewer poked in comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, mix the custard powder, sugar and cocoa together in a saucepan. Stir in dribbles of milk until you get a smooth paste. Gradually add more milk until it's all incorporated with no lumps. Put over a medium heat and warm, stirring constantly, until thick and just bubbling.
• Cut the warm cake into slabs and pour over the hot chocolate custard to serve.