Rich And Velvety Custard Pie 2003 1st Place Custard Recipes

LEMON CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Pulse the saltines, coconut, sugar and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter and continue to pulse until the crumbs begin to clump together. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate (the crust will be thick). Bake until the crust is browned around the edges and lightly browned on the bottom, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove to a rack and let cool slightly.
• Make the filling: Remove the peel from 1 lemon using a vegetable peeler, removing just the peel and not the pith. Transfer the peel to a food processor. Remove the peel from the other lemon and discard the peel. Cut off the white pith from both lemons; chop the flesh, removing any seeds, and add the flesh to the food processor along with the condensed milk. Puree, scraping down the sides. Add the egg yolks and process until combined. Strain the filling through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing it through with a rubber spatula. Pour over the crust and gently wiggle to distribute the filling. Bake until the filling is set but still slightly wiggly, about 20 minutes. Transfer to the rack and let cool 1 hour, then refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours.
• Just before serving, make the topping: Beat the heavy cream and sugar in a bowl with a mixer on medium speed until medium peaks form. Serve with the pie.

TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt. In a thin stream, whisk in the milk until smooth. In a thin stream, whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a saucepan. Over medium heat, whisking the mixture constantly, bring to a boil. Boil gently for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the bittersweet chocolate and vanilla. Fill a large bowl with ice cubes, rest the saucepan on top, and add cold water to cover the ice cubes. Let the mixture cool, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Fold in the white chocolate and pour the mixture into 1-cup ramekins, cups, or mugs. Refrigerate until well chilled. The recipe can be made up to 2 days in advance. Serve cold.

OLD FASHIONED CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a large bowl whisk together eggs, sugar and salt.
• Slowly whisk in scalded milk a little at a time to prevent cooking the egg mixture.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Pour, through a sieve, into the unbaked pie shell.
• Sprinkle top with ground nutmeg.
• Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Filling will look wobbly but will set up as it cools.
• Chill thoroughly and serve with whipped cream.

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.