Coconut Custard

The weather here in Portland this winter has been so perfect, in my opinion. On Sunday morning, we woke up to a beautiful blanket of snow on rooftops, trees, and lawns; the day stayed cold and sunny, and in the afternoon we went to Stars on Ice with Andy's sister, who was visiting. This morning it is silvery blue outside, and another light snow is starting to fall, dusting the tips of my fall-planted pink daffodils, just starting to peek through the cold dirt. For once my house is tidy, my to-do list pretty well checked off. After flurries of deadlines and thousands of satin stitches, I am eager to clear my mind. I find myself in the kitchen, making custard. This one's coconut.

Coconut Custard

5 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut (I'm sorry, for those commenters questioning, I don't know what this is called or how it's sold in other countries; in the U.S. it comes in a bag, or you can buy it in bulk.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs well, then add the sugar, milk, half-and-half, and vanilla. Stir in coconut. Pour custard into a two-quart glass casserole dish and bake for 35-45 minutes until center is set. If the top looks like it's getting too dark, cover the dish with aluminum foil. Serve warm.

You could always put the custard into a pie shell, but it weeps like crazy as it cools — foodies, are you supposed to dehydrate the coconut somehow, first? It's not a big deal — I just pour the water out of the dish after it cools a bit (just make sure the whole thing doesn't come plopping out into the sink, of course), but it would definitely soggify your crust if you had one. Which would just remind you of eating coconut-custard pie on late nights at Baker's Square in high school, so it's okay.

The snow has really started coming down. It looks just like shredded coconut.

Comments

[Kelly]

Looks absolutely delicious! ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

[Robyn]

Snowing here in Maryland too, FINALLY. I'm so happy! Making rice pudding today, I think.

[meg]

Oh, yum. Yum, yum, yum. Need I say more?

[Priscilla]

Oh, that looks amazing! I am a long-time reader, but I don't comment very often. Today I just wanted to say thank you. Every time I see one of your posts, it reminds me to look for the beauty in small things every day.

[Petra]

I don't know what half and half is. Is it available in Germany?
I read your blog very often.
Greetings Petra

[E to the M]

OMG. OMG. OMG. I want to leave work right this very second and go make this.

[Briana C.]

Oh, you hit my tastebuds' jackpot this morning! Not only that, but I have all of these ingredients at home! Oh yumyumyumyumyum.... Thanks!

[Nancy]

looks really yummy
and that nose up there- so cute

[Rona]

This looks so yummy and rich. The sweetened coconut- are you using canned coconut meat (with or without the juice), coconut milk, or fresh?

[Megan]

I live about an hour south of portland and we have no sign of snow - so weird. Enjoy it for the rest of us!

[Laura K]

That looks delicious! Thanks for sharing.

[Gemma]

Oh! That *does* look delicious! We are waiting for the snow here in Rhode Island - the children are hoping for a snow day tomorrow :)

Petra, half & half is 1/2 milk, 1/2 light cream. You can dilute down regular cream with water to get the proper consistency.

[lori]

now i have a craving for coconut custard. or impossible pie! it's far too long till i can get home from work...

(Love your blog).

[Julie (Knitsational)]

That sounds so cozy! I am looking at a dreary, rainy scene, myself, but hearing about yours gives me happy thoughts. That custard looks so yummy.

Btw, I'm having a giveaway on my blog this week.

[Paula]

Okay, I am getting sleet and ice instead of nice fluffy snow... But, I just love the look of fresh sparkly snow and fresh homemade goods! Mmmm...looks wonderful. You had me until the "soggify" and I guess I will just have to bake one to see what you mean! Love you narratives...very inviting. I also am enjoying your book very much. Happy Day!

[Pesky Patti]

Sounds wonderful. Any way we could get some photos of the snow?

[Laurel]

I'm salivating just looking at it. I just had lunch and was full but now am having hunger pangs.

[Kristina]

Coconut custard is my dad's favorite kind of pie. I made him one for Father's Day last year. I recall that the two tricks to avoid weeping and soggy crust are 1) pre-bake your crust before putting in the filling
2) When you put the filled crust into bake, let it go until it's firm around the edges, but still jiggly in the center.

On another note-- do I recognize that napkin from your Thanksgiving runner-and-napkins project? Lovely.

[leanne]

mmmmmm that SMELLS so good!

[a fanciful twist]

I want some!! ;) xoxo (I must try this)

[Kelly Grace]

Pink Daffodils? What a delightful idea! Post a picture?

[Lallee]

If I were in your neighborhood, you would find me knocking on your door in the next five minutes. That looks SO delicious!

[bee]

that looks so delicious!

also, i am way jealous of your snow...

[Alison]

I have to correct the half-and-half instructions. (I am an American transplant living in the UK). You can indeed make it, but mix cream and milk together, not cream and water! Or, if you're like me, just use the thinnest cream available to make US recipes all the more creamy & delicious ;-).

[Beth]

this looks yummy!!!!! now if our power would pop back on so I could use my oven! (I am using my iphone right now)