1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup half-and- half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar (Splenda)
Blueberry jam, Apricot preserves, or Orange Marmalade (low sugar)
6 eggs
Roasting pan large enough to accommodate 8 custard cups with at least
1-inch to spare around
8 custard cups
Small nonreactive saucepan
A kettle boiling water
Whisk
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In the saucepan, combine the milk, half-and-half, vanilla, and sugar.
Bring to a bare simmer over medium-low heat.
Next, place 1 to 2 tablespoons of fruit into each of the custard
cups. The topping should come a few millimeters up the side of the
custard cup.
Separate 3 of the eggs using the slotted spoon. Reserve the whites.
(Note: Freeze the whites in ice trays. After the whites are frozen,
place the frozen cubes into zip-top freezer bags. The frozen whites
can be frozen up to a year.)
Place a mixing bowl on a rubber pad or a wet towel to prevent the
bowl from spinning out of control. In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining
whole eggs and the yolks. Whip the eggs with a whisk until slightly
thickened and lightened in color. While whisking the eggs, drizzle
in about a quarter of the hot milk. Now whisk the tempered eggs back
into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture.
Place the custard cups into the roasting pan. Evenly distribute the
custard into the custard cups, going short on the first pass. Place
the pan on the middle rack of the oven and pour boiling water into
the pan just under the level of the custard.
Cook for about 40 minutes, or until they wobble slightly when the
pan is wiggled, about 40 minutes. You can also insert a paring knife
midway between the edge and the center. If it comes out clean, they
are done. Using tongs, remove the cups from the pan to a towel-lined
sheet pan. Allow the water in the roasting pan to cool before discarding.
Cool, cover and chill.