Dessert: Lemon Custard with Raspberry Sauce

Recipe by Nick Malgieri and David Joachim A hint of lemon is perfect in a creamy baked custard. This one has no caramel to get in the way of the lemon flavor. Lemon juice would be too overpowering here. Instead, the subtle lemon flavor comes from steepin

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Lemon

Health benefits of Lemon Custard with Raspberry Sauce

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

1 quart whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
3 large lemons
1-inch piece cinnamon stick
6 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 recipe Cooked Raspberry Sauce
Eight 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups, set in a small roasting pan or any pan about 2 inches deep

Instructions

Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees.
Combine the milk and sugar in a medium saucepan and whisk several times to mix. Bring the mixture to a boil over low to medium heat.
Use a vegetable peeler to remove just the yellow zest from the lemons in large strips. Do not include any of the white pith beneath the zest, which would impart a bitter flavor.
When the milk boils, remove it from the heat, add the lemon zest and cinnamon stick, and allow to steep for 5 minutes.
Combine the eggs and vanilla in a mixing bowl and whisk well, but not so quickly that the eggs become foamy. Strain the milk mixture into a lipped container, such as a 4-cup measure, to remove the strips of zest and the cinnamon stick.
Pour the milk into the egg mixture in a thin stream, whisking constantly but not quickly to avoid creating too much foam.
After the milk has been added, let the mixture rest for 5 minutes, then use a ladle or large kitchen spoon to remove any foam from the surface. Pour the mixture into the lipped container and fill the molds almost to the top.
Place the pan of molds on the oven rack and immediately pour 3 to 4 cups of warm water into the pan around the molds so that the water comes about halfway up the side of each mold. If the molds fit tightly in the pan, it may be necessary to remove one temporarily to have room to pour in the water.
Bake the custards for about an hour, or until they are completely set and no longer wobbly in the center.
Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a rack for 10 minutes to cool. Then remove the molds from the pan and cool them completely to room temperature. Individually wrap each mold in plastic and chill until you intend to serve them.