Grandmas Recipe Of The Month Meyer Lemon Custard Soufflé

MEYER LEMON SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Bring milk just to a simmer in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, then remove from heat.
• Beat together yolks, sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until thick and pale, 3 to 6 minutes. Reduce speed to low and add cornstarch, mixing until incorporated. Add hot milk in a slow stream, mixing until smooth.
• Transfer custard to same saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking constantly, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. (Mixture will be thick.) Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl, then whisk in zest and juice. Cover surface with round of parchment or wax paper and cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 375°F.
• Butter souffl dish, then sprinkle with sugar, turning to coat all sides and knocking out excess.
• Beat egg whites with salt in another large bowl using cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar and increase speed to high, then beat until egg whites just hold stiff peaks.
• Stir one fourth of whites into lemon custard to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Pour mixture into prepared soufflé dish, then wrap paper strip tightly around outside of soufflé dish, forming a collar that extends at least 4 inches above rim. Tape overlapping ends together.
• Bake soufflé until puffed and golden in spots, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove collar and serve soufflé mmediately.

MEYER LEMON CUSTARD CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter eight 3/4-cup ramekins or custard cups. Whisk 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, flour, and pinch of salt in medium bowl to blend. Combine milk, egg yolks, lemon juice, and lemon peel in large bowl; whisk until blended. Add flour mixture to yolk mixture and whisk custard until blended. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar to whites and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/4 of whites into custard. Fold remaining whites into custard in 2 additions (custard will be slightly runny).
• Divide custard equally among prepared ramekins. Place ramekins in large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins. Bake custard cakes until golden brown and set on top (custard cakes will be slightly soft in center), about 27 minutes. Chill custard cakes uncovered until cold, at least 4 hours, then cover and keep refrigerated. DO AHEAD: Custard cakes can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche in medium bowl until softly whipped.
• Run small knife around each custard cake to loosen. Invert each cake onto plate. Place dollop of crème fraîche atop or alongside cakes and serve.