I have always enjoyed cooking. Not only does it allow me creativity and provide my family with yummy stuff, but it also brings back warm and comforting memories. Everything I make has a memory connected with it. My grandmother was a wonderful Southern cook. She never measured a thing, she did it all by feel. Many of the things I make are called “Mimi’s ____” after my grandmother. She was such a wonderful person and made so many good Southern dishes–golden egg custard, cheese grits, corn pudding, and succotash….
Whenever I make her recipes, I feel as if she is still with me, watching over my shoulder. Sometimes the feeling is so strong that I’ll catch myself speaking to her out loud. My mother and mother-in-law are both very good cooks. From my first mother-in-law, I learned to garden on a large scale and to can. I get a great sense of satisfaction and RIGHTNESS when I put food up, bright and beautiful, into jars. My current mother-in-law is of German descent and from her I have learned how to make sauerbraten, schnitzel, spatzel, and several other ethnic goodies. She makes a to-die-for pie crust, fluffy waffles, and effortless breads. Many of her dishes (for me) are still a work in progress! I am growing half a dozen heads of cabbage in my front flower bed and am looking forward to trying sauerkraut!
Mimi’s egg custard is a good old-fashioned Southern desert. Every bite brings back memories of my childhood. This recipe is easily doubled depending on the number of people. The recipe as is will feed approximately 4-5 people.
3 eggs
1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups milk (scalded)
nutmeg to taste
Place two cups of milk into a pan and heat just until a skin forms on top. Set aside. Beat the first four ingredients together then add the scalded milk, tempering the eggs first. To temper eggs, add a little of the egg mixture slowly to the hot milk, stirring constantly. Then slowly add the milk back to the remainder of the egg mixture. Pour into a casserole dish or pie pan. Sprinkle nutmeg on top to taste. Set pan into another larger dish with water in it (a cookie sheet with a lip is fine). Bake at 325 degrees. Center should still be a little soft when done. It will set as it cools.
Get the handy printable here: Mimi’s Egg Custard
Do you have a recipe post or kitchen-related story to share on the Farm Bell blog?
See Farm Bell Blog Submissions for information and to submit a post.
Want to subscribe to the Farm Bell blog? Go here.
jerseylady says:
Thanks for sharing! Our uncle made a wonderful custard pie. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.
On January 11, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Jan says:
I love this post, thank you! Reminds me of a grapenut custard that my mother in law introduced me to years ago. We love it served warm out of the oven with vanilla ice cream that slowly melts as you eat it – yum!
On January 12, 2013 at 2:52 pm
Darlene in North GA says:
About how long does this need to be baked? I made custard before, just don’t know the approximate cooking time for this dish is when made in a casserole dish.
TIA
On January 14, 2013 at 4:24 am
lesliedgray says:
I’d say @ 25-35 minutes.. You just have to watch it. The center should still look a little underdone. It will finish cooking and set as it cools.. If you cook it until the center is set, it will be overdone and will have a clear liquid that will seep from the custard after it is cut.. I’d err on the side of caution rather than over cook it.
On January 15, 2013 at 11:08 am