Coffee Custards in 7 Steps

I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.

The above quote from Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite Jane Austen quotes. It pretty much sums up the beginning of my husband and mine relationship. When we first met, my husband and I hardly spoke with each other, but before leaving the party he said goodbye to me with the most sincerest smile. And, at that moment I knew that I was "in the middle before I knew I had begun." And six years later, whenever I think of that moment, I am reminded of this indie song by Maria Taylor.

Paris, je t'aime is one of my favorite romantic films. The film shows how complicated, and yet simple love is. Love is about loyalty, betrayal, family, longing, happiness, sadness, passion, and so much more. I also love the soundtrack of the film, especially the song called "La Meme Historie" by Feist. 

"Yes. When we get married, I thought, Oh, we will have a long time together. I thought to myself, Thirty years at least, maybe forty. Fifty, if we are lucky. Why not?” She stares at the picture, lost for a moment then smiles lightly. “But time, it is like charm. You never have as much as you think."

I am aware of the commercial and materialistic aspects of Valentine's Day. But, as the above passage, from Khaled Hosseini's And the Mountains Echoed, points us that life is very short. We never have as much time together, as we like. So, it is really important to cherish the time we do have together. These "Hallmark holidays" remind us to take a moment from our busy lives, and show our loved ones how blessed we are to have them in our lives. 

She had existed and now she did not. Not at all, as if not ever. And people hurried around, as if this outrageous fact could be overcome by making sensible arrangements. He, too, obeyed the customs, signing where he was told to sign, arranging-as they said-for the remains.

What an excellent word-“remains”. Like something left to dry out in sooty layers in a cupboard. 

And before long he found himself outside, pretending that he had as ordinary and good a reason as anybody else to put one foot ahead of the other. 

What he carried with him, all he carried with him, was a lack, something like a lack of air, of proper behavior in his lungs, a difficulty that he supposed would go on forever.

Alice Munro's short stories are about ordinary people, living in small Canadian towns, going about their ordinary lives. But, there is so much beauty in the ordinary. In this passage from Dear Life she introspectively explains what it means to lose someone. How even when you feel that the world has collapsed, your lungs are still functioning, your heart is still beating. You feel that you can't go on. But, you must continue living. In the absence of your loved ones, but in the presence of their memories.

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.

Lastly, these beautiful verses from Margaret Atwood's poem "Variation on the Word Sleep" invoke when it comes to love we want to be necessary without being overbearing.

After this romantic and rather cheesy food for thought, let's discuss these luscious and super quick coffee custards. These coffee custards are inspired by Kean Coffee's Turkish lattes. Kean Coffee is our favorite local organic coffeehouse in Southern California. Try the recipe and please let me know what you think.

Coffee Custards
In honor of Valentine's Day, this week we are going to have two dessert recipes going up. So, if you need a little break from all of the #Superbowl50 madness, watch this video about luscious Coffee Custards.For more videos and recipes visit: www.cultivateflavors.blogspot.com.
Posted by Cultivate Flavors on Sunday, February 7, 2016

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Baking Time: 45-50 minutes
Resting Time: 2-3 hours in the refrigerator
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of whole milk
1/2 cup of whipping cream
3/4 cups of espresso coffee
1/2 cup of sugar
4 cardamom pods (crushed)
1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste or extract
4 egg yolks

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: In a saucepan, heat milk, cream, espresso coffee, cardamom pods, vanilla bean paste, and sugar. Bring it to a simmer. Remove from the heat and let it cool. Strain into a bowl, discarding the cardamom.

Step 3: Add the eggs into the milk mixture, and whisk to mix well.

Step 4: Equally distribute the custard mixture into 4 ramekins.

Step 5: Place the ramekins in a large baking dish, filled with warm water. Make sure the water is coming halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Step 6: Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until nearly set. The custards should still be slightly wobbly in the center. When I was making these custards my sister and I had a long conversation about the difference between a ripple and wobble.

Step 7: Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours.