Homemade Vanilla Custard

You can not beat fresh Vanilla. Its one of my favourite ingredients from Vanilla pods to essence. You can do so much with the pods but the main thing here is the custard. When making this there is no substitute for fresh Vanilla and the smell and taste will prove my point. You can use this custard on fruit ice cream or just good old apple tart.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups whole milk
• 8 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 2 Vanilla Pods

PREPARATION

1. Heat milk in a 2 1/2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not boiling.
2. While milk heats, whisk together yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heatproof bowl until smooth. The cornstarch is their to protect the eggs from scrambling
3. Add 1 cup hot milk to yolk mixture in a stream, whisking, then add remaining milk, whisking constantly. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and registers 170°F on thermometer, 6 to 10 minutes (do not boil).
4. Immediately force custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl and stir in butter and vanilla. Chill custard, its surface covered with cling film, until cold and thickened, at least 3 hours.