Take a box of eggs . . .

[bmpsands]

On the recommendation of a Laner I bought this little book and it's great!

I had a 92 year old for lunch today (OK - we had a proper lunch but with a 92yr old mother in law present) and she always likes a pudding that she remembers from her younger days. The take a box etc book had a basic egg custard recipe so I thought that would be great. It will be lovely at teatime - but what on earth have I done wrong?????

The recipe said gas mark 3 for 45mins to an hour. After an hour and a quarter I gave up and rustled up a quick semolina with home made jam. The baked custard looked/felt done after about an hour and 45 mins but when I went to cut a slice for MiL to take away with her for tea there is still a bit of runny stuff in the bottom of the dish. I should also say that the last 40 mins or so was at Gas mark 5!

Help please!

Bea

[Annie]

Not sure Bea,
I have a recipe for pastry lined egg custards roughly it uses 1/2 pt milk,2 tablespoons sugar,2-3 medium eggs , nutmeg.
Are you quantities the same ?
Bake 30 - 40 mins at 170-180 which I think translates at 2 -3 gas mark.

[bmpsands]

Thanks Annie

My recipe has no pastry base. There's 3 eggs, 1 pt milk, 1 oz sugar and nutmeg.

I'm going to have another crack at it, using the bottom oven not the top, and see how we go. I baked it in quite a shallow container so I'm baffled.
B

[manda]

Are you baking it in a bain marie?

3 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
450ml cream or milk or half and half
60g caster sugar
Freshly grated nutmeg, to dust

Beat the whole eggs, egg yolk and vanilla extract together lightly
Put the milk / cream in a pan with the sugar and dissolve sugar.
Heat to just below boiling point then pour onto the eggs and stir to combine (You can strain through a sieve if you want to before putting it into your dish).
Stand in a roasting pan half-filled with hot water. Sprinkle the top with nutmeg. Bake for about 30-35 minutes.

I wonder whether not putting it in a bain marie is stopping it from setting.

[bmpsands]

Yes, Manda, it was in a bain marie. The quantities don't sound much different but it took FOREVER to cook. The end result was gorgeous, but I'm going to try to bottom oven of my double cooker next time which I believe is rather fierce.

[manda]

If that doesn't work I would put an extra egg or two in it which would probably make it set.

[bmpsands]

Thanks again. An extra egg sounds like a good idea.