1 1/2
cups
Sugar
1
Pinch
of Cream of Tartar
3 1/2
cups
Milk
1
cup
Heavy cream
5
Large
Eggs
5
Large
egg yolks
2
Tbsp
Fresh lemon juice
1
Tbsp
Fresh Lemon Zest, grated
1
tsp
Vanilla
In a small heavy saucepan,
combine 3/4ths cup of the sugar, the cream of tartar, and 1/4 cup
of water; bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar is
dissolved, and boil the syrup, covered, for 1 minute.
Remove the lid and
boil the syrup, undisturbed until it begins to turn golden. Combine
to boil the syrup, swirling it and tilting the pan occasionally,
until it is a deep golden caramel. Pour the caramel into a loaf pan, 9
1/4th by 5 1/4th by 3 inches, tilt the pan to coat the bottom and
sides with the caramel,
and let the caramel cool. In a large saucepan scald the milk with the cream
over moderate heat. In a large heatproof bowl whisk together the whole
eggs, the egg yolks and the remaining 3/4ths cup sugar until the mixture
is light and frothy. Add the scalded milk mixture in
a slow steam, stirring
constantly, and stir in the lemon juice, the zest, and the vanilla. Set
the loaf pan in a larger and deeper baking pan and strain the custard mixture
into the loaf pan. Cover the loaf pan with heavy duty foil and add enough
hot water to the larger pan to reach two thirds of
the way up the sides of
the loaf pan. Bake the custard in the middle of a preheated 325F oven for
about 1 1/2 hours until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Do not overcook (The custard may not appear set in the middle
but it will continue to cook as it cools.) Let the custard
cool and chill it,
covered, overnight. Servings: 10.
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