For such a simple little dessert, this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection sure brought out a lot of opinions! I made it during beloved "nap time" Sunday afternoon and liked how quickly it came together. We have an enormous lemon tree so a quick trip into the beautiful "winter" AZ weather and I had two enormous lemons ready to zest. I used a veggie peeler to cut wide pieces off the lemons to steep in the milk. I thought the final product had a nice lemon taste and it complimented the vanilla- I used about 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract but let's be honest, I just dump that stuff in (my bottle even has a flip top) like the vanilla junky that I am.
I attempted to unmold these little buddies and while they were less than cute, I like that this photo shows the texture of the final product. I baked them just about as long as Dorie recommended and they were still a little jiggly but totally done. I had two faithful taste testers and they both agreed that this was fine, but not enough. My husband thought there should be some sort of crust (like a tart? he suggested) and my mom thought there should be a lot of drippy caramel or lemon sauce (like flan!)
I thought that while this dessert was simple, didn't require any weird or expensive ingredients, and was even pretty fast, it's just not worth the calories to me. Not when I could be making pastry cream with the same ingredients. I'd love to hear your flavor ideas, though, for some inspiration. I think there's something to be said for such a simple and quick dessert. I'm glad I made it, but if you'll excuse me, now I'm really feeling the need to make some pastry cream. Now that's a treat that doesn't even need a tart shell or caramel sauce!
(Recipe available at Bridget's beautiful blog)
Everyone seems to have different ideas about custards! I always liked them as a child, but as an adult I can't handle the "eggy" part. Still, they look pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing about pastry cream.. Isn't it weird how baking makes it so flan-like? At least yours look so cute in the ramekins and unmolded nicely!
ReplyDeleteToo bad you didn't really like them!! I think they look pretty good!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you..I'd much rather make/eat pastry cream for the calories. This was super easy, I just wish the result was better so I could use this as an easy weeknight dessert. Love your photo of the unmolded custards!
ReplyDeleteNo real love here, but I'm glad I made it and tried it! They do look nice though!
ReplyDeleteOoooh I think a tart shell AND caramel sauce would be amazing with this dish!! Sorry you weren't the biggest fan! Now, about that pastry cream....
ReplyDeleteI skipped this one, but when I was thinking of making it I thought I would use a crust, too. Looks good, though. I like the pic showing the texture!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you -- not worth the calories. But they were fun to try, and like you said, there is no real huge investment of time or ingredients. You have a lemon tree in your backyard? Sigh. Well, love them or not, you made the custards look beautiful, just like you always do!
ReplyDeleteOh...that must be so wonderful to have lemon trees in your back yard.
ReplyDeleteYour custards look wonderful.
I want a lemon tree! That would drive my husband crazy. He has a "thing" about lemons... it's a love/hate relationship with lemons. Go forth and make pastry cream! Cant' wait to see what you do with that.
ReplyDelete~Delta Whiskey
I love that you show the texture in you photo. Of course it is not a dessert I would choose by looking at it. :) But, that is where all of the opinions came in right?
ReplyDeleteMmm, pastry cream, now that sounds delicious! I'm sorry this dessert didn't have the "wow" factor. But at least your lemon and vanilla seemed to help out a bit! That and your custards didn't overbake!! They look quite pretty. But at the end of the day, I'm with your mom and husband. Give me a crust or some caramel or something with a bit of "jazz"!
ReplyDeleteAnd how!
ReplyDeletePerfect, delicious, and look so smooth and creamy.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
elra
I love the idea of having a lemony sauce to go with it, but not as much as I love the idea of having my very own lemon tree!
ReplyDeleteI would KILL for a lemon tree. Wow. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing Anne Strawberry !
ReplyDeleteLooks fabby!
they look great! i think they were meant to just be a simple comfort dessert. i saw a few people that used espresso that said it was really good, maybe you would like that better! and brulee the top! :)
ReplyDeleteI like that you unmolded yur custards. They do look like flans. They look tasty.
ReplyDeleteYes, these little custards were a controversial item. Your custards look great.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this dessert for its simpleness... the caramel sauce sounds like a great idea though.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people seem to be lukewarm about these. I guess I'm glad I couldn't fit them into the schedule! Yours look great, though.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, I used to make an "impossible custard pie" that was basically a baked custard with a really thin, nice crust to it. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteI could definitely go for some pastry cream now that you've mentioned it! Great job this week!
ReplyDeleteI hear you...if I am going to make and eat this, it had better be worth the calories and I just didn't think it was either. "Vanilla junkie" -- love that...I hear you on that, too! Yours looked very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOooh pastry cream is just delicious - now you've got me thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteYour custards look wonderful! I tried to unmold mine for a photo but they weren't cooperative :)
ReplyDeleteLooks great! (BTW, I love the weekend nap too. I dream about them while at work during the week!)
ReplyDeleteMmmm, enjoy that pastry cream!!! Chocolate? he he
ReplyDeleteI know hubs doesn't eat chocolate. Anyway, I do remember eating custard pie all the time as a kid. It was good with pastry. That may be the ticket for this little humble dessert. I like that it is low in sugar, has protein, simple and inexpensive to make. Great photos!
AmyRuth
I do the same mental weighing of the calories thing! I HATE it when something is "not worth the calories!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful though!
ReplyDeleteI always think these look delicious, but for some reason I am never a fan. Still look good though!!
ReplyDeleteI like how you took yours out, looks more like flan that way! I thought the mocha combo with cinnamon I used work great. I liked this easy and inexpensive recipe. I wanted to add mine to mini tarts, but they did not come together well, so I abandoned the project. Job well done.
ReplyDeletemmm! These look so good! just what I'm in the mood for right now!
ReplyDelete