CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Whisk together the yolks, sugar and salt until creamy.
• Set aside.
• Put the milk in a heavy bottomed pot.
• Cut the vanilla bean in half and add to the milk.
• Scald the milk.
• Take a wet towel and make it into a ring on your worksurface.
• Take a pan that your bowl will fit into and put 2 inches of water in the bottom and put it on the stove to heat to a boil.
• Place the bowl with the yolks in the ring you made with the towel- this will hold the bowl in place while you whisk in the milk.
• Slowly, slowly, ladle a little of the hot milk into the yolks, whisking constantly.
• Add a little at a time, continuing to whisk the yolks.
• As more and more of the milk is added, you can add more at a time.
• This is"tempering" the yolks, or bringing them to the same temperature as the cream.
• Do this to prevent the yolks from scrambling.
• If your yolks scramble- start over.
• So, slow and steady with the milk.
• Once all of the milk is added, put the bowl on top of the pan with the boiling water and stir with a wooden spoon constantly until the custard starts to thicken and coats the back of the spoon.
• DO NOT let it boil!
• Take the custard off the heat immediately and cool in an ice bath.
• Strain through a fine mesh strainer and refrigerate until ready to use.
• It will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.
• Variations: Chocolate Creme Anglais- mix 1/4 cup warm chocolate sauce into the cooled sauce.
• Cinnamon Creme Anglais- add 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 1/2 stick of cinnamon to the milk before scalding.
• Rum Creme Anglais- add 1 1/2 teaspoons dark rum to the cooled sauce.