Berries With Vanilla Custard For Two Recipes

BAKED VANILLA CUSTARD WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Have a 2-quart oval baking dish and a roasting pan large enough to hold the baking dish ready.
• Prepare the berries: Combine the strawberries, cherries, sugar and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat without stirring, until the fruit has softened a bit and released lots of juices, about 5 minutes. Transfer the fruit and a scant 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) of the juices to the baking dish. Discard any remaining juice.
• Make the custard: Combine the sugar and egg yolks in a large mixing bowl and beat vigorously with a whisk until very light and creamy looking. Add the mascarpone and beat just until combined; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the cream and vanilla on medium speed to soft peaks, about 3 minutes. Gently fold the cream and vanilla into the mascarpone mixture until no streaks remain.
• Carefully dollop the custard on top of the berries. Place the baking dish in the roasting pan and place the roasting pan in the oven. Pour hot but not boiling water into the roasting pan so it comes two-thirds of the way up the sides of the baking dish.
• Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until the surface is lightly golden, the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly. If it starts getting too dark too quickly, cover with foil.
• Remove the pudding from the roasting pan and let it cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Cover the custard and chill for 6 hours or overnight. Serve chilled, topped with a dusting of confectioners' sugar and sliced strawberries.

BERRIES WITH VANILLA CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, mix cream, egg yolks and sugar. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon and a thermometer reads at least 160°. Do not allow to boil., Transfer to a bowl; stir in vanilla. Refrigerate, covered, until cold. Serve over fresh berries.

BLUEBERRY AND VANILLA CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, cream of tartar, and salt for crust together in a medium bowl until combined. Mix in melted butter, egg yolk, and vanilla until combined. Firmly press 2/3 of the mixture into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared tart pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 of the mixture around the edges, then press firmly and evenly into the sides of the pan, creating a slightly raised edge over the top. Lightly prick the bottom of the crust with a fork several times, not going all the way through.
• Mix egg white and water together until combined. Brush a light layer of egg white over the bottom of the crust. Place the tart pan onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven just until the crust begins to brown, 25 to 27 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow crust to cool for 15 minutes. Leave the oven on.
• While crust is cooling, make the custard. Whisk together egg yolks, sugar, and salt until thick and light in color. Mix in vanilla extract. Gradually add heavy cream, mixing gently but thoroughly, to avoid incorporating too much air. Carefully pour custard into the cooled crust. (You may or may not have extra; just don't overfill.)
• Place tart back into the oven and bake until custard is just set and lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature, at least 1 hour.
• While tart cools, make blueberry topping. Place blueberries and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until berries begin to burst and release their juices, about 15 minutes. Combine lemon juice and cornstarch in a small bowl or measuring cup. Add cornstarch mixture to the blueberries, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• When both the tart and the blueberries have cooled, carefully spoon blueberries over the top of the tart, and spread gently into an even layer. Place tart into the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours. Remove sides of tart pan, slice, and serve.