Alice B Toklas Orange Caramel Custard Recipes

ALICE B. TOKLAS'S BAVARIAN CREAM

Steps:

• Heat the milk and the cloves in a saucepan over low heat until hot.
• Combine the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and beat until lemon colored. Slowly beat in the warm milk and cloves, and place in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir with a wooden spoon until the custard is hot and coats the back of the spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, strain into a mixing bowl and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, place the gelatin in a small dish and add 1 1/84 cup cold water. Set aside to let it ''sponge,'' about 5 minutes. Stir the gelatin into the custard and continue to stir constantly until the gelatin is completely dissolved and the custard has cooled. (For rapid cooling, place the bowl of custard in a larger bowl of ice water.)
• Lightly grease a 5-cup mold or bowl with oil or nonstick cooking spray. Place heavy cream in a deep bowl and whip until peaks are firm but not stiff. Fold the lemon zest and then the whipped cream into the custard. Pour into the prepared mold and refrigerate until firm.
• When ready to serve, pull the custard away from the sides of the mold with your thumb to break the suction. Invert onto a serving dish and remove the mold. Surround with fruit.

ORANGE & CARAMEL CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Beat the egg yolks and sugar for a few mins until pale and slightly thickened, then whisk in the flours. Heat the milk and orange zest in a saucepan. Once it's starting to boil around the edges, whisk into the egg mix. Put the whole lot back into the pan, stirring all the time until thick and boiling. Leave to cool completely. Can be made up to 2 days ahead.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Brush the filo sheets one by one with egg white and use to line a 23cm loose-bottom flan tin, overlapping the pieces as you go. Fold the pastry over itself at the edges rather than letting it overhang or you'll never get it out of the tin. Bake blind for 10 mins, then give it another 5 mins until dark golden and very crisp. Leave to cool. Can be made up to 1 day ahead.
• The cream filling will be set by now, so beat again with electric beaters until smooth. Spoon into the case, then chill for at least 30 mins. To serve, put the sugar into a non-stick frying pan and leave over a gentle heat to melt and then caramelise, swirling the pan only a few times. Meanwhile, spread the oranges over the custard. When the caramel is dark golden, drizzle it over the oranges, let it set for a few mins, then serve immediately.

VANILLA-ORANGE CUSTARD WITH CARAMEL

Steps:

• For Custard
• Using vegetable peeler, cut peel (orange part only) in wide strips from oranges. Combine milk, half and half and sugar in saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into milk mixture; add bean. Bring to simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add peel. Remove from heat. Cover and steep 30 minutes.
• Strain mixture into medium bowl; cool to lukewarm. Whisk eggs and yolks in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk milk mixture into eggs. Chill until cold.
• For Caramel
• Mix 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water and juice in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush, about 10 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons water (mixture will bubble). Stir over low heat until hard bits dissolve. Immediately pour into 6-cup soufflé dish; swirl to coat bottom and halfway up sides. Cool.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk custard; pour into caramel-coated dish. Place in large baking pan. Fill pan with enough hot water to come halfway up sides of dish. Cover pan completely with foil, sealing at edges. Bake until center 3 inches of custard moves only slightly when dish is shaken, about 1 hour. Remove from oven; let stand covered 10 minutes. Remove from water; chill overnight.
• Combine berries and 1/4 cup sugar in bowl. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Run knife around sides of dish to loosen custard. Place platter atop dish. Invert custard onto platter. Remove dish; allow caramel to spill out onto platter. Garnish with some berries. Serve, passing berry mixture separately.

ALICE B. TOKLAS' PRUNES WITH CREAM

Steps:

• Soak prunes for 24 hours in 2 cups port. Then add 2 more cups port, the sugar, and vanilla bean. Cook gently for about 1/2 hour. Cool and refrigerate for 3 days.
• To serve, put in a decorative bowl and cover with whipped cream. Sprinkle whipped cream with a thick layer of powdered macaroons and garnish with candied violets.