Custard base recipe

Ingredients:
 -  4 egg yolks1/2 pint (250 ml) milk
 -  4 oz (100g) sugar or caster sugar

First of all scald the milk (bring slowly up to boiling point in a saucepan).

Separately, mix together the egg yolks and sugar until thick. Pour into this the hot milk, whilst continuously stirring. Then pour the mixture back into the pan and heat gently, stirring until the custard thickens – don’t let it boil or it will probably sour. When you can see a film form over the back of your spoon it's time to remove the saucepan from the heat. Leave to cool.

This is the custard base - you can use it in many recipes.
 

Simple Syrup

Ingredients:
 -  4 cups sugar
 -  4 cups water

Place the water and sugar in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate in a covered jar.
Makes about 1 quart


Recipes for those whom simple Ice cream just isn’t enough….
 

15 Minute Brownies

Ingredients:
 -  3/4 cup Flour
 -  1/4 tsp Baking soda
 -  1/4 tsp Salt
 -  1/3 cup Butter
 -  1/2 cup Sugar
 -  2 tbl Water
 -  12 oz Chocolate chips, semi-sweet
 -  1 tsp Vanilla
 -  2 x Eggs

Combine flour, soda and salt; set aside.
In microwave-safe mixing bowl, combine butter, sugar and water. Cook for 2 minutes at 100% power, stirring after 1 minute. Remove from oven. Add 1 cup chocolate chips and vanilla and stir until smooth and chips are melted.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Blend in flour mixture and stir in remaining chocolate chips.
Pour into an 8 or 9 inch microwave-safe baking pan. Place a saucer, upside down, in the microwave and put baking pan on top of saucer.
Cook at 70% power for 10 minutes turning after 5 minutes. Enjoy!
 

All Time Brownies

Ingredients:
 -  1/2 cup Margarine
 -  4 table Cocoa
 -  2 x Eggs
 -  2/3 cup Flour
 -  1 tsp Baking powder
 -  1/4 tsp Salt
 -  1/2 cup Chopped nuts (optional)
 -  1/2 cup Fruit sweetener

Blend margarine, cocoa, and fruit sweetener.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix dry ingredients together separately.
Add to chocolate mixture. Fold in nuts.
Pour into “9x9" pan which has been sprayed with non-stick coating spray.
Bake 15-20 minutes at 325 F. Brownie is done if it springs back when lightly touched in centre.
 

All Purpose Crepe Batter

Ingredients:

 -  4 eggs
 -  1/4 tsp salt
 -  2 cup flour
 -  2 1/4 cup milk
 -  1/4 cup butter melted

In medium mixing bowl, combine eggs and salt. Gradually add flour alternately with milk, beating with an electric mixer or whisk until smooth. Beat in melted butter. Refrigerate batter at least 1 hour. Cook on upside-down crepe griddle or in traditional pan.
Makes about 34 crepes. Use about 1 ounce of batter for each crepe.
It is not necessary to grease pans having a non-stick coating. Heat pan over medium-high heat. With one hand, pour in 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter. At the same time, left pan above heating unit with your other hand. Immediately tilt pan in all directions, swirling the batter so it covers the bottom of the pan in a very thin layer. Work quickly before batter cooks too much to swirl. Return to heating unit and cook over medium-high heat. Cook crepe until bottom is browned. Then carefully turn with spatula. Brown other side for a few seconds. Remove from pan with spatula; stack on plate or tray.
 

Angel Crepes

Ingredients:
 -  2 large egg whites
 -  1 1/3 cup non-fat milk
 -  1 pinch salt
 -  1 tsp oil
 -  2 tsp custard powder or cornstarch
 -  1 1/3 cup flour
 -  Optional: 2 tsp. cocoa OR, (see directions)
 -  2 tsp sage + 2 tsp minced parsley
 -  Cooking spray or oil

In a blender, food processor, or electric mixer, beat together egg whites, milk, salt, oil, custard powder or cornstarch, and flour until smooth. Allow batter to rest 15 minutes.

If making cocoa crepes for Mince Packets with Brown Sugar Custard, remove 1/2 cup batter and stir cocoa into it. This will be the batter for 3 cocoa crepes used as ribbons to tie the packets.

Heat a non-stick crepe pan over medium-high heat and spray lightly with cooking spray, pour in about 3 tablespoons of batter (4 tbsp for herb crepes) and swirl to coat pan. After about 20 seconds, tiny bubbles will begin to form.
Carefully turn crepe over and cook other side for about 10 seconds.
Turn out onto a rack to cool.
Repeat with remaining batter.

 

Waffles

Ingredients:
 -  2 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
 -  1/2 cup all-purpose flour
 -  1 1/2 tbl baking powder
 -  1 tsp baking soda
 -  1 tsp salt
 -  2 tsp sugar
 -  3 x eggs
 -  3 cup buttermilk
 -  1/2 cup melted butter


Mix all dry ingredients together. Beat eggs into buttermilk. Whisk into dry mixture. Mix in melted butter last. I like to use a non-stick Belgian waffle maker. Take a 1-ounce ladle full of the mix and place in the centre of the waffle maker. Follow regular instructions for your particular waffle maker.