Choc Nanner Nut Custards Recipes

HAZELNUT CUSTARDS

Steps:

• In a mortar and pestle or a food processor, pound the hazelnuts until finely ground.
• In a medium heavy saucepan, bring the cream to a boil over medium high heat (watch carefully that it does not boil over). Add the sugar and stir until it has dissolved. Stir in the hazelnuts, bring back up to the boil and remove from the heat. Cool the mixture almost to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg and the egg yolks together until evenly blended. Slowly pour the cream mixture in, stirring all the time, until absorbed. Add the Frangelico and then strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup with a lip, pressing hard against the mesh to extract all the flavor from the nuts. Pour the custard mixture into twelve 2 ounce ramekins and arrange them in a large roasting pan. Pour a little boiling water in the base of the pan, to come about halfway up the sides of the little custard pots. Bake on the middle rack until the custards are set in the center, about 35 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool to room temperature, then chill for at least 1 hour. Serve 2 or 3 little custards per person and, using a vegetable peeler, shave a few small curls of chocolate over the top of each.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. In a medium saucepan, bring half-and-half and vanilla just to a boil. Remove from heat.
• Place egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat until light, then whisk in chocolate. Whisking constantly, gradually add hot half-and-half mixture. Skim any foam from surface.
• Divide mixture among four (6-ounce) custard cups, and place in a baking dish just large enough to hold them. Place in oven, and pour enough boiling water in dish to come halfway up sides of cups. Drape a sheet of aluminum foil over top of baking dish (do not seal).
• Bake custards until just set but still slightly wobbly, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove cups from dish; refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 320 degrees F.
• Melt chocolate over low heat.
• In a saucepan, combine cream, milk and 2 tblsps sugar and bring to bare simmer, stirring occasionally.
• In a small bowl combine 2 tblsps of the milk mixture with the espresso powder and stir into the milk mixture with the chocolate.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, egg, and remaining ¼ cup sugar for 1 minute, or until the mixture is blended well.
• Add milk mixture in a stream, whisking, and strain through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup.
• Spoon off the froth and pour into six 5-ounce custard cups.
• Cover cups with foil.
• Arrange cups in a baking pan and pour hot water around them to reach halfway up sides.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until just set.
• Remove from oven, let cups sit in hot water for 10 minutes, remove, and let cool completely.
• Chill 3 hours and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE LOVER'S CUSTARDS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat cream and sugar until bubbles form around sides of pan. Add white chocolate; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks; stir a small amount of hot cream mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla., Transfer to eight 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Place in a baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until centers are just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove ramekins from water bath; cool for 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours., Working one at a time, spread bittersweet chocolate over each custard. Immediately place drops of white chocolate over the top and swirl with a toothpick. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until chocolate is firm.