Custard is a pudding style mixture created by heating milk, and slowly adding eggs to create a thick creamy texture.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custard Custard can be seen in many popular desserts and recipes because of its flexibility of thickness and flavor. Commonly, custards are sweetened and placed as fillings for desserts, but they can also be cooked with a savory flavor to accompany meat and fish dishes. Depending upon the thickness of the custard, it can be a firm dessert or a thin sauce.http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Custard/id/456468
Popular sweet custards are made from milk or cream. Once this has been heated, eggs are added slowly to incorporate them into the milk, and avoid cooking them. Sugar and vanilla provide the sweet flavor. While sweet custard is used in many desserts, it is also commonly found as a frozen treat. Savory custards can be used for a variety of dishes such as quiches or used as a base for sauces, flavored with spices and herbs.
Custard History
Custard is derived from the word crustade meaning a tart with a crust. It achieved its name from its use in the Middle Ages as a binding agent for pies and pastry fillings. While Ancient Romans were the first to discover that eggs could be used as a binding agent in cooking, the presence of custards can be found throughout Asia as well.http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpuddings.html#custard
It was European chefs that introduced the idea of custard to America, however in the mid 1800's an English chemist, Alfred Bird, introduced a combination of cornflour and sugar known as custard powder. This replaced the use of fresh eggs to make custard, and also reduced the risk of curdling. Custard powder became very popular in America for its convenience compared to fresh eggs.http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpuddings.html#custard
After the development of custard powder, instant recipes for custard and puddings began to surface and have become those we see in supermarkets today.http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpuddings.html#custard
Custard Serving Suggestions
Custard is a flexible recipe and can be found in its base form as an ingredient in more complex dishes
Pumpkin Pie is a custard style dessert and served at most holiday meals such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. Using the fruit of the pumpkin, and adding spices and flavors to a custard base, this filling is thickened and cooked into a smooth and tasty dessert. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-custard.htm
Creme Brulee. The history of this dish is under question, and claim to the recipe is divided between England in the 1600's and Spanish in the 1800's. Although its history is uncertain, the taste of this dish is not. This is a classic form of custard, with a sugar topping that has been caramelized. There are variations to the flavors, such as lime or tea for Asian flavor, or chilies for a Mexican taste.http://www.mackenzieltd.com/mackenzie/creme_brulee.html
Bavarois. Often flavored with zest, chocolate or fruit, this cold custard dessert is mixed with whipped cream set with gelatin and placed into a mold.http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpuddings.html#custard
Custard Recipe
This video illustrates how to create a simple custard recipe using sugar, egg yolks, flour and milk. Showing how to successfully create the custard, the video guide uses a tempering technique to add the eggs, to avoid actually cooking them. The result is a creamy textured custard that can be used to create a delicious tart dessert, or add fruit for a variation of flavors.
Custard Blogs
Simply Recipes: Sugar High Friday: Cooking Up Custard
Slashfood: Food Porn: Creme Caramel
Chow: Custard's Cult Following
Accidental Hedonist: Milk Pie
Habeas Brulee: Cardamom Meyer Lemon Créme Brûlée Bubbles
Chocolate & Zucchini: Ceufs au Lait
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