Grandmas Floating Island Pudding Recipes

GRANDMA'S FLOAT

Steps:

• Whisk the flour and 2 tablespoons of white sugar together in a small bowl until combined; set aside. Whisk together the egg yolks, milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a small saucepan until smooth. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat, and stir constantly. Once the mixture is warm, whisk in the flour mixture, and continue cooking until the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes. Whisk constantly as the sauce cooks to keep it from scorching. Once thick, keep warm over low heat.
• Beat egg whites until foamy in a large glass or metal mixing bowl. Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites should form a sharp peak that holds its shape. Finally, beat in the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Pour the hot sauce over the egg whites, and gently fold together using a rubber scraper until well incorporated. Do not mix vigorously, or the egg whites will deflate. Serve warm.

GRANDMA'S FLOATING ISLAND PUDDING

Steps:

• Island: Mix all ingredients thoroughly in saucepan and.
• cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until well thickened, 8-10 minutes.
• Pour into four 6oz custard cups and.
• seal with plastic wrap laid directly on pudding to prevent film from forming.
• Refrigerate until cooled and set.
• Topping: Mix all ingredients in saucepan and.
• cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened, 8-10 minutes.
• Pour into 2 cup measure and.
• seal with plastic wrap laid directly on pudding to prevent film from forming.
• Refrigerate until cooled.
• To Serve: Insert table knife between Island and custard cup and run knife around cup to loosen.
• Invert each Island on a serving plate and remove custard cup.
• Pour 1/2 cup topping over Island- topping may be served warmed in microwave or chilled.

LEMON PUDDING WITH FLOATING MERINGUE ISLANDS

Steps:

• MERINGUE: Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place the egg whites and cream of tartar in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed for 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. (When the beaters are lifted out of the bowl, they form peaks that fold over.) Add the sugar and beat for 1 minute or until thick and glossy. Form 4 mounds of meringue in an 8 or 9 inch shallow baking dish and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.
• FILLING: Place the sugar, cornstarch salt and water in a small saucepan and cook over medium high heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until it begins to boil. Boil for 1 minute. Place the egg yolks in a small bowl and beat slightly. Very slowly whisk some of the hot mixture into the eggs to temper them. Pour the eggs into the pan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 1 minute or until the mixture barely begins to bubble. (Do not allow the pudding to boil or the eggs will curdle.) Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and lemon juice.
• Carefully pour the pudding around the meringue. The meringue may loosen on their own and pop to the top of the pudding. If they do not, carefully run a knife or spatula around them to loosen them. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until ready to serve.

FLOATING ISLAND

Steps:

• Heat oven to 130°, oven rack to bottom third of oven, this is going to rise. Butter and sugar - like your were using flour, but use sugar to coat the sides of the dishes instead-- one or two tall-sided oven dishes, I use 1 soufflé dish and one bread pan usually.
• Be sure your egg white beating bowls are completely grease free and dry. Separate your eggs carefully, one by one into a separate bowl is best, you must not have even the tiniest bit of yellow in your whites or the whole recipe won't work.
• Start beating the egg whites at a moderate speed until foamy, beat in the lemon juice and salt and gradually increase speed to fast, you really need an electric beater for this. When the egg white form soft peak, very gradually add the sugar in small amounts, then beat at high for a few minutes til you get stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla. Scoop the mixture into the prepared dish or dishes, you want them about filled, just use a second dish if you have too much. I sometimes use a prepared bread pan for the excess and slide it onto the same oven rack as the soufflé dish.
• Bake immediately in the preheated oven 35-40 minutes. It will rise and turn golden. A bit too much time is better than too little. Remove and cool at room temperature, it will sink a bit. When cool, cover and refrigerate. May be made up to a couple days in advance and even frozen.
• Cut into 6 wedges and serve on a pool of cool crème anglaise, which is actually a bit difficult to make at home. If you have any hesitation, buy it pre-made. If you are feeling adventurous, use your leftover egg yolks and any crème anglaise recipe from the web and follow the directions EXACTLY-- it must NEVER boil.