Berries With Vanilla Custard For Two Recipes

Steps:

• Cook's Note: For a nonalcoholic version, substitute the port with 1/4 cup white grape juice mixed with 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• In a medium bowl, combine the berries with 1 tablespoon port and 1 tablespoon sugar. Allow to sit and macerate while you prepare the zabaione.
• Bring a small pot of water to a boil over medium heat. In a bowl that will fit over the top of the pot, beat the egg yolks with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with an electric hand mixer until pale. Place the bowl over simmering water and, with the beater running slowly, drizzle in the remaining 3 tablespoons port. Continue to beat until the mixture becomes very thick and has doubled in volume, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Divide half the berries among 4 serving glasses. Top each with a generous dollop of zabaione, garnish with the remaining berries and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Have a 2-quart oval baking dish and a roasting pan large enough to hold the baking dish ready.
• Prepare the berries: Combine the strawberries, cherries, sugar and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat without stirring, until the fruit has softened a bit and released lots of juices, about 5 minutes. Transfer the fruit and a scant 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) of the juices to the baking dish. Discard any remaining juice.
• Make the custard: Combine the sugar and egg yolks in a large mixing bowl and beat vigorously with a whisk until very light and creamy looking. Add the mascarpone and beat just until combined; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the cream and vanilla on medium speed to soft peaks, about 3 minutes. Gently fold the cream and vanilla into the mascarpone mixture until no streaks remain.
• Carefully dollop the custard on top of the berries. Place the baking dish in the roasting pan and place the roasting pan in the oven. Pour hot but not boiling water into the roasting pan so it comes two-thirds of the way up the sides of the baking dish.
• Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until the surface is lightly golden, the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly. If it starts getting too dark too quickly, cover with foil.
• Remove the pudding from the roasting pan and let it cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Cover the custard and chill for 6 hours or overnight. Serve chilled, topped with a dusting of confectioners' sugar and sliced strawberries.

Steps:

• In a bowl, lightly beat the egg. Stir in the milk, sugar, vanilla and salt until combined. , Pour into 2 ungreased 6-oz. custard cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Place in an 8-in. square baking dish; add 1 in. of hot water to the pan. Bake at 350° until a knife comes out clean, 35 minutes.

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, mix cream, egg yolks and sugar. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon and a thermometer reads at least 160°. Do not allow to boil., Transfer to a bowl; stir in vanilla. Refrigerate, covered, until cold. Serve over fresh berries.