Louises Coffee Pot De CrÈme Recipes

COFFEE POT DE CREME

Steps:

• In a heavy bottom saucepan, bring heavy cream, milk and half the sugar to scald.
• Meanwhile, add the other half of the sugar to the yolks and whisk together well. Take saucepan off of the heat and temper a small amount of the hot milk to the yolks, whisking constantly.
• Pour the tempered yolks into the hot milk. Add the dissolved espresso powder. Pour through a fine strainer.
• Pour into ramekins. Set ramekins onto a baking pan and fill pan with 1 inch of water.
• Set baking pan with ramekins in 300 degree F oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until
• edges of custard are set and middle is liquid.
• Let cool completely before refrigerating. Serve with chocolate wafers.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 300°F.
• Put chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring cream, milk, espresso powder (to taste), and a pinch of salt just to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until espresso powder is dissolved, then pour over chocolate, whisking until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
• Whisk together yolks, sugar, and a pinch of salt in another bowl, then add warm chocolate mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a 1-quart glass measure and cool completely, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Line bottom of a baking pan (large enough to hold ramekins) with a folded kitchen towel and arrange ramekins on towel. Poke several holes in a large sheet of foil with a skewer. Divide custard among ramekins, then bake custards in a hot water bath , pan covered tightly with foil, until custards are set around edges but still slightly wobbly in centers, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Transfer ramekins to a rack to cool completely, uncovered, about 1 hour. (Custards will set as they cool.) Chill, covered, until cold, at least 3 hours.
• *Available at some supermarkets, specialty foods shops, and The Baker's Catalogue (800-827-6836).

TURKISH COFFEE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Bring 1 2/3 cups cream to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat, add the cardamom, cover and let steep 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Bring a small pot or kettle of water to a boil. Place a folded damp kitchen towel in a 2-quart baking dish; arrange 8 espresso cups in the dish (the towel will keep the cups from moving).
• Whisk the egg yolks and salt in a bowl. Return the cream to medium heat, add the sugar and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Strain the cream into the egg yolks, whisking constantly. Stir in the espresso and vanilla until combined. Transfer to a liquid measuring cup, then divide among the espresso cups.
• Place the baking dish in the oven and pour boiling water into the dish until it reaches halfway up the outside of the espresso cups. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake until the custard sets around the edges but still jiggles in the center, 35 to 45 minutes.
• Let the custards cool in the water bath, about 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Cover each cup with parchment paper (to absorb condensation), and then plastic wrap. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.
• Whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream and the confectioners' sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. Top each pot de creme with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with pistachios.