I've never made propper custard before tonight. It tasted great but was curdled. Cooked too long praps?
Probably too much heat!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/glossary/c.shtml?custard
hubby says its cos you boiled the egg in the mixture, once they boil they curdle
try cooking over a pan of boiling water rather than in the pan itself. That way the egg doesn't cook too fast and hot.
True, it is delish, can't eat the other stuff - too much cornflour and other stuff in it.
Too much heat scrambles the eggs and makes it look curdled. Use lsower, gentler heat next time or do it over simmering water as suggested.
The whole point of Bird's custard is that it has no egg. It was invented by a chemist whose wife was allergic to egg but still wanted a creamy, vanilla based sauce for her desserts.
That's interesting.
If visitors demand "custard" of that sort, I have been known to heat some milk with a vanilla pod and sugar, and thicken it with cornflour. Rather white, though.
Certainly too much heat and boiled the egg. Like has been mentioned heat over a pan of simmering water.
It can take ages to cook properly because it should be done in a double boiler and the top should not touch the water to make sure it heats gently.
Adding some cornflour helps to stop the curdling it makes an emulsion by joining the milk and eggs. I understand you can not taste it in the end result but because cornflour needs 5 minutes boiling to stop it separating when cold, you can not get away with it for a trifle. Which does taste better with 'proper custard'.
Afraid we are saddos who were brought up on Birds custard powder and still prefer it on our hot puddings to the cheffy french variety which we are lead to believe by TV chefs is the proper way to make it.
Hating waste, I need to be using the egg whites for something and end up making yet another dish to use them up.
Like to try to make everything though, then it is on my tick list of 'done it'
Thanks for all the replies! Tried it again last night (although using Vanilla extract as had run out of pods)... As suggested, made it in a bowl placed in simmering water and it was absolutely perfect... It will be even better when the Madagascan Vanilla pods that I've ordered arrive.
OllieC well done!
There's nothing like creamy hot custard, especially poured over blackberry and apple crumble! :)