How to Make Custard

The prime ingredients of custard are milk and eggs. The consistency might vary from custard to custard depending upon the amount of eggs used. The traditional way of making it can take up to 45 minutes. Pre-packaged custard mix is also available in the market, that is easy to prepare using the instructions given on the package, with not more than 15 minutes of preparation time.

• Condensed milk, 1½ cans
• Eggs, 4
• Castor sugar, 1½ cups
• Vanilla extract, 1½ tablespoons
• Ground nutmeg (alternative: cinnamon), ¼ teaspoon

Beat the eggs in a large bowl along with the castor sugar and vanilla extract. Into a large saucepan, pour the condensed milk and heat it while stirring, continuously. Once the milk heats up, pour the egg mixture into the saucepan, and continue stirring it to avoid the formation of lumps. Take care that the mixture doesn't stick to the pan. Once all the ingredients are blended, remove the saucepan from the heat.

Transfer this mixture to a baking dish, through a strainer. Sprinkle the ground nutmeg over the custard mixture and bake it in a 325 ºF preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool. Serve the custard with fresh fruits or even caramel sauce.

• Low-fat sweetened condensed milk, 1 can
• White sugar, 1 cup
• Water, 2 cups
• Large eggs, 5
• Vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon
• A pinch of salt

Dissolve the sugar in the water, using a large skillet, till it caramelizes. Pour this syrup into a baking dish. Separate the yolks from the egg whites, and beat them. Blend the condensed milk, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and salt, in a separate bowl.

Pour this mixture into the baking dish and bake it in a 175 ºC preheated oven for about an hour, till the center sets. Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool before refrigerating it.

• Milk, 2 cups
• Canned pineapple (chunks), 1
• Baked pie crust, 1
• Large eggs, 3
• All-purpose flour, ¼ cup
• Grated lemon rind, 2 tablespoons
• Melted butter, 2½ tablespoons
• Sugar, 1 cup
• Lemon juice, 1½ tablespoons
• Cinnamon powder, ½ teaspoon

Boil the milk in a medium-sized saucepan along with the sugar, cinnamon powder, and butter. Add the flour to the milk mixture and stir it for a couple of minutes. In a bowl, combine the pineapple juice, lemon rind, and lemon juice; blend them. Stir the milk mixture into the bowl. Place the pineapple chunks in the pie crust and pour the custard mixture into it. Bake this pie in a 325 ºF preheated oven for about an hour.