Freshfruitwithvanillacustardsauce 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.

FRESH FRUIT WITH VANILLA CUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Scald milk in a large saucepan over medium heat (do not allow milk to boil), set aside.
• Combine eggs, egg whites, and sugar in a medium bowl, beat with a wire whisk until blended.
• Gradually stir about one-fourth of hot milk into egg mixture; add to remaining hot milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook stirring constantly, over low heat until mixture thickens and coats a metal spoon, about 30 minutes.
• Immediately pour sauce into a large bowl, stir with a wire whisk until cool.
• Stir in vanilla and salt, cover and chill 2 hours.
• Serve over fresh fruit.

FRESH FRUIT AND WARM VANILLA PUDDING CUSTARD PARFAITS

Steps:

• Make the fruit salad: Combine the fresh fruits in a bowl with the sugar, lemon juice, lemon verbena and lemon balm. Cover and refrigerate.
• Make the Vanilla Pudding Custard, about 1 hour before serving: In a microwave safe 2-quart bowl, whisk together the pudding mix, milk, brandy, vanilla extract and scraped vanilla bean and seeds. Cook in the microwave on high heat for 6-8 minutes, whisking every two minutes, until thickened.
• Make the Whipped Cream: Whip the cream until soft peaks form; add the vanilla extract and sugar. Whip until stiff peaks form.
• Assemble the parfaits: Place a mini shortcake in the bottom of each individual dessert or parfait glass (I used mini trifle glasses). Ladle the warm vanilla pudding custard over the shortcakes. Spoon the fruit salad over, and top with whipped cream. Garnish tops of parfaits with fresh sprigs of lemon verbena, lemon balm, or fresh fruit.

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.

VANILLA CUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Place half and half in heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep 30 minutes.
• Whisk yolks and sugar in medium bowl until thick. Whisk half and half with vanilla bean into yolk mixture 1 TBLS at a time until the eggs warm up to prevent cooking. Return mixture to same saucepan. Stir custard over low heat until thickened enough to leave path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 6 minutes (do not boil). Pour into bowl. Chill uncovered until cold, about 2 hours. Then cover and chill until you use it, can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Remove vanilla bean before using - you can rinse dry it and add it to a jar of sugar for vanilla sugar.
• Note - some people like warm custard sauce over cake - just cool to your prefered temp and frig any leftovers.