January 3, 2009

Snow Pudding with Custard Sauce

It snowed in Havre, Montana yesterday. All day. The radio issued traffic reports and road closures. Spaghetti dinners were cancelled. Lutheran church services were cancelled. We were advised not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary. (I think going to a spaghetti dinner would constitute a necessity for driving!)

I must admit that I felt a little trapped; somewhat claustrophobic; and fearful that this white stuff might never melt and my twice-weekly trips to Wal-Mart would come undone!

I stood at the door and watched the snow come down. Watched it swirl around in the air coming in from all directions, creating drifts against the door. Ack! The door is blocked! How do we get out??
"This is ridiculous!" I muttered more than once, and to no one in particular.
My gardener was unconcerned about the weather, so I made soup for dinner and thought about the desert and the 70 degree December weather I left behind.
Today it was sunny and bright. This morning, as my gardener was shoveling a path to civilization, it was -14 degrees with a wind chill of -34. Hmmm, I wonder what -34 feels like. I stepped outside to take a picture and I'm here to tell you that -34 feels cold. Very cold. The wussy winter clothing I bought this year to prepare myself for the cold ain't gonna cut it. I'm tellin' ya that for free.

See my gardener in that picture there? Now he's prepared... snow suit, boots, gloves, hat. I have no snow suit. That's why he has to shovel and I... can't... because, well, I just don't have the right clothing. Otherwise, I would. I definitely would be out there with the best of them shoveling snow... if I had the right clothing... but...

Snow Pudding with Custard Sauce is a recipe my Mom used to make when we were kids. It's so delicious... so light... so lemony... and so yummy with the custard sauce, that I just had to make it today. In honor of all things snow.
Just a few ingredients. Lemon juice, sugar, salt, corn starch and eggs!
Combine the sugar, salt and boiling water. Blend the cornstarch and cold water. Add the cornstarch/water mixture to the sugar mixture in a saucepan and heat to boiling. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. It'll turn kind of opaque and will become very thick. Cornstarch never ceases to amaze me.
Now, beat 2 eggs whites...
... until stiff!
In a separate bowl, fold in the egg whites and lemon juice with the cornstarch mixture...
... until it's all combined and looks like this. Now you can put it in one big bowl, or put it in individual cups and refrigerate.

Time to make the custard (which is SO good you'll be eating it with a spoon even before the pudding is set - I promise!) Combine some sugar and cornstarch, then combine egg yolk and scalded milk. Mix all that together and heat...
... until slightly thickened. This is some good stuff, Bubba.
When the pudding is the consistency of Jell-O, it's ready for the creamy custard sauce. My Mom served us snow pudding in these little cups. Right now my sisters are saying "Oh my gosh... I remember those!!" - but only if they read my blog. Otherwise they don't have a clue that I ended up with these cuties.
They're SunFrost Therm-o-ware (dishwasher safe and unbreakable, made in Canada) from the early 60's.

Whether it's snowing in your neck of the woods or not, I know you're going to love this Snow Pudding and I hope you give it a try! You can find the recipe right here.

Do you have any Therm-o-ware - or dishes that you ate from as a child? If you do, I'd love to see pictures!

And if you live in snow country... take it from me... refuse to wear anything but capris and sandals (all year long!) and never-ever buy adequate cold-weather clothing!

19 comments:

  1. Sometimes I feel like that when a big snowstorm hits! But it's a good reason to stay in jammies and read and drink hot cocoa :) Happy New year!

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  2. That pudding and custard looks really good!

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  3. I live in Pennsylvania, we haven't had that much snow this year...so far anyway. I've never seen this recipe before, it looks so good!

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  4. ah, you make me miss the snow and cold weather ~ it's been in the mid 70s and foggy soppy wet here on the northern Gulf coast ~ at least the sand is white and I can pretend...

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  5. This looks great, very creative! No snow here in California, but sometimes I wish we had it!

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  6. OH, YUM. I wish I could make this, but I'm allergic to corn. :-(

    Your snow fall had topped ours in MN. Stay warm.

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  7. That looks wicked good, I love pudding. Unfortunately I'm the youngest in my family so all our cool stuff got snagged by my older siblings as they left the house. I almost got my moms badass chinese cleaver but at the end she couldn't part with it. Heh.

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  8. Hi Karen :)

    I'll have to make that pudding!

    I just read your post about the lobster tails and I laughed, because I miss CA fish soooo bad. Ohio fries EVERYTHING and they hardly have any fresh fish that I recognize. I miss abalone and tuna steaks (sigh)

    Happy New Year!
    rue

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  9. Oh, definitely never buy proper clothing! You can always think warm thoughts! ;) Your pudding and custard look yummy!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! I've got a bit of reading to do on yours from the look of it! Very nice!

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  10. You would have totally laughed listening to the LA news last night. They were advising parents to bundle their kids up, warning it might rain with temperatures falling to the high 50s. yikes!

    This pudding looks delectable!

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  11. It's -1c here and I thought that was cold!

    The pudding looks delicious! I love going back to old recipes.

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  12. I would make this because of the name alone! It also is lemony which I find such a refreshing and bracing flavor... kind of like winter itself!

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  13. omg mom! I recognized Gram's little puddin' cups in a heart beat! I looooved those little cups! I haven't had her Snow Pudding yet...I'll have to make it soon :)
    Love you xoxo :)
    mg

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  14. Oh my gosh!!! I do remember those cute pudding cups...and I didn't know that you ended up with them!! LOL!! Snow pudding is so delish!! Thanks for reminding me of it and for your great blog! I miss you! Oh...btw...pigs feet is the only way to go in Kale Soup!! :) Love...your Sis!

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  15. You had me at lemon. I can't believe I have fallen so far behind on your blog - gack! Now there are so many yummies to choose from what's a girl to do? Oh I know...make them all!!! :)

    Hope the weather is at least out of the - now, I see on your side bar it says 8 though. Brrr.

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  16. This is so crazy!!! I googled snow pudding and after poking around the web a bit, came across the pic of your therm-o-ware cups, Just three weeks ago, I asked my dad if I could have the mugs we used to use when I was a kid (they were our 'camping' mugs) and I've been on the hunt for more of them ever since. But they have to be SunFrost, not Bolero or any other maker/style!

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  17. I have been thinking about this 'dessert' for quite a while and so am glad to have run across your recipe. Actually, snow pudding is wonderful stuff for times when your stomach is upset and can't seem to keep anything down. The snow pudding, without the custard, works wonders as it is so light and fluffy. Save the custard sauce for when you are feeling a bit better. (its perfect for those who are undergoing radiation therapy). Sandy - Dieppe New Brunswick - Nov 25/10

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  18. Thanks for the recipe!!! Love it. Fresh or frozen local abalone is cheaper but will never give the same taste, flavor and texture as canned abalone. I love the flavor and taste of canned abalone and one day I want to eat abalone like 'abalone kings' do: braised in sauce and served whole, like a steak, washed down with a good white wine. Cut with a knife and fork of course. Meantime, it's still cheaper to slice abalone thinly and share with the family. I love this dish. It's such a special treat

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  19. Canned abalone is available. Look in the Mexican section of your grocery store, or it can be ordered online http://www.mexgrocer.com/abalone.html

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