Custard Mingle
Custard in sunshine and shade
Custard; the alchemy of combining egg yolks with milk or cream and transforming them, by cooking, to an unctious, golden substance that I can’t resist in any form. When poured over a blackberry and apple pie, the fruit picked from the hedgerows, it’s my Autumnal food epitome. Then there are all the other sweet variations from crème brûlée, to egg custard tart, to crème anglaise in a dainty profiterole and, lest we forget, as a base for the best ice-cream. Furthermore there’s its savoury incarnation from quiches and tarts to components of some moussaka and bobotie recipes.
Are you inspired? I hope so because as the host of this month’s Mingle I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Thank you to Meeta, from What’s for Lunch, Honey? one of the warmest, generous and most talented food bloggers and photographers in the Universe for bestowing this hosting honour upon me. I can barely contain my excitement! See the rules for the Mingle below and do join me so we can make this the biggest, best and yellowest celebration of custard there has ever been.
For anyone who wants to join me, here’s what to do:
1. Create a dish that fits the custard theme as described above.
2. Post about it on your blog from now until November 30, 2011 (it would be great if you could use the Monthly Mingle badge in your posts).
3. Link to this post and/or the official Monthly Mingle Page.
4. Send a link to your post to sallypro1@yahoo.co.uk (with “monthly mingle” in the subject line) and include the following: your name, your blog’s name and URL, the name of your dish/food/entry and the URL/link to your Monthly Mingle post, and a 500-pixel-wide photo.
So grab your apron, some free-range eggs and put Coldplay ‘Yellow‘ on in the background. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Here’s my recipe for plain simple custard sauce or crème anglaise to get you in the mood..
Crème anglaise
Ingredients
300 ml (1/2 pint) milk
1 vanilla pod, slit with knife
3 large egg yolks, beaten
1 tablespoon (15 ml) caster sugar
Method
- Heat the milk together with the vanilla pod in a heavy-based saucepan until almost boiling. Remove from the heat and leave for 20 minutes so the flavour of the vanilla can infuse into the milk. Remove the pod (you can rinse, dry and store in sugar to make vanilla sugar).
- Put the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until thick and creamy. Gradually whisk in the warm milk, quickly wash up the saucepan, then strain through a seive back into the clean pan.
- Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 10-20 minutes. It’s ready when it coats the back of the spoon. If you have been stirring for 10 minutes and nothing is happening, raise the heat slightly. The mixture must not come to the boil. If it does start to curdle, strain into a cold bowl, add a few ice cubes and whisk hard.
Think of all the flavours you could add to this alone…orange, lemon, chocolate, cardamon, lavender… See you for the round-up.
P.S. Since posting, I’ve had a minor rebellion about the Coldplay suggestion in my comments! So what would you choose to play in your kitchen?
Trackbacks
- Twitted by SALLY2HATS
- Twitted by bakerstreet29
- BORER BEETLES AND CUSTARD MINGLES « The only Cin
- Chocolate Marquise with Mint Crème Anglaise | thelittleloaf
- monthly mingle, the zakuski roundup
- My custard day out « Devina Divecha. Journalist.
- Thai Pumpkin Custard « Divalicious In Dubai
- Maple Pots de Creme (Baked Maple Custard) | Three Clever Sisters
- Monthly Mingle: Baked Chocolate Custard | Lavender and Lime
- chocolate hazelnut pots de creme « saffronstreaks … a food and travel blog
- Grandma’s Custard Pie- Monthly Mingle entry | accordingtodina
- Strawberry soup with custard « PinkPolkaDotfood
- Barbados Cherry Custard Cake « La Mère Culinaire
- Cranberry Custard Dessert – Monthly Custard Mingle «
- honey cardamom creme brulee « Sunday Dreamings
- Custard Tartlettes « FoodieCorner
- Mingling with custard « My Custard Pie
- chocolate hazelnut pots de creme
- My custard day out | FooDee
Comments are closed.
My Custard Pie 
I will join in, with absolute joy, but I draw the line at Coldplay 😉
Ha ha! What would you play in your kitchen then Cindy?
I like a talk-show on weekdays, the classic rock channel on Saturdays and golden oldies on Sundays 🙂
Can’t wait to get started,Sally.Will be my first participation in a mingle.
Great news Farwin – cannot wait to see what you make.
I hope to join in this month…..minus the ‘Coldplay’ in the background!
I hope so – I was really sad not to join yours but I was travelling so impossible. So what music do you play in your kitchen Sukaina? Or do you prefer to create in silence?
I love custard and can’t wait to see the MM roundup!
Cheers,
Rosa
Collecting custard fans here 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
I can’t believe I’m saying this…but I think I’ll participate in this one! Sally, you know how I prefer to leave cooking to the experts, but I do like custard and I can work with it without many tears. So yes, I think I’ll take part in my first ever monthly mingle 😀
I’m actually contemplating taking part cause I love custard so very much…let’s see!
Devina, Arva, I be so delighted if you joined this custard-fest 🙂
I love anything with home made custrad in! Your custard is an easy one!
MMMMMMMM,…!! You have a lovely blog! Greetings from Belgium!!
Love custard, and love Coldplay. I’m in (but given my absent mind lately let’s hope I do not forget…my failing to join the planting party today was a case in point)
I’m in. Love custard and love Yellow by Coldplay, especially since my son aged 8 at the time played in on his guitar.
Such beautiful photos! The custard looks so good….
I love custard! Add some semolina in there and you have the makings of a good Greek galaktoboureko 🙂
I never understood what that song was about but I do like Coldplay.
I’m going to have to google that Magda. I must make clear that I’m not a dyed in the wool Coldplay fan (although they come from Devon) – but I do like that song.
I am going to take part in this for sure! And well done for setting the challenge in the 1st of the month 🙂
Oh dear. I’ve just watched Mamma Mia!, so the only thing playing at the moment here is ABBA. 🙂 Lovely look custard Sally!
I have always loved custard but I’ve never made it at home. Gorgeous photos!
I’ve just posted a recipe with mint creme anglaise (custard) poured all over the top…can I enter it into the mingle? I guess I’d just need to go back in and include a link to this page? x
Love love love custard – and plan on creating a Christmassy one! Thanks for hosting and smothering me with all the lovely comments (my head has grown a few sizes larger now) – huge hugs to you!
A custard mingle! Genius! I hope I can manage to join in, it’s been ages since had chance to mingle!
Just spent the morning looking through all my lovely cookery books looking for custard inspiration. Now I’ve found too much!
I know the feeling Ren. Love the planning as much as the cooking sometimes though.
I’ve just created something very lumpy, but a custard dish no less. I’m so not a good cook 😦
Anyhoo, will be sending a link your way in a few days!
Custard can be tricky – but like all tricky things the more you do it the more you learn. I can’t wait to see what you got up to. If you want consolation check out this earlier post of mine…https://mycustardpie.com/2011/05/06/custard-a-tale-of-unrequited-love/
I was just on food52, and they have some videos posted about how to make a fantastic custard, and before I even saw your post I was already tempted. Truly serendipitous. I’ll be checking out yours as well. If I get my act together (two months in a row would admittedly be a minor feat), I will certainly be playing!
My first mingle – how excited I am! Have had fun looking for inspiration and have now posted my recipe. Now to finish eating the dessert!
So delicious – great to have you as part of the mingle.
I will give it a try as well!!! I just need to find some time …uff! But i love custard and find the mingle idea fun!
Yippee Marta
I love this theme and will indeed be joining in…maybe more than once? Lovely!
Jamie – that would be wonderful.
Chef has agreed to having a go!
An honour indeed – can’t wait to see what you come up with. In fact might have to come round and experience it in person!!
What an honour – can’t wait.
Just saw this 🙂 this is great, hopefully I will manage to squeeze in a post before the deadline :))
I do hope so – love to see custard creation from Dima’s Kitchen
Done, here is the link :))
http://www.dimasharif.com/2011/11/mini-eclairs-with-custard-filling.html
I’d love to join in Dima.
I love custard! Your picture “Custard in Shade” is gorgeous. Oh, and I love your milk jug too.
Very kind Nadia – I couldn’t decided between sun and shade so posted both. The milk jug is from a lovely gallery in the old Bastakia area of Dubai called the Majlis Gallery. It’s one of my favourites.
Hi Sally! I made Creme Anglaise too and loved it! Posted it recently as a recipe for Homemade Custard, would this qualify? Please let me know. Would love to participate in the Mingle!
Yes please 🙂
Hi, I have just linked an entry of chocolate hazelnut pots de creme here, cant wait for the delicious roundup
First time in your blog and enjoying every bit of it.
cheers
Sukanya
Sumptuous recipe – thanks for joining in and your really kind comments.
I have posted my mingle!!
Fabulous – really exciting celebration of custard on the horizon.
hi, is it ok to make an eggless custard ? Please do let me know..i am already running late : )
Intriguing…can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Mmm custard, bit late on the band wagon but sure I can squeak something in before the deadline.
That would be great Anna