SPOON FOR STRAINING FOOD RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat 3/4 cup cream in a 1-quart heavy saucepan until hot. Whisk together yolks, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a metal bowl until combined well, then add hot cream in a slow stream, whisking until combined. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until it registers 160°F on thermometer. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in vanilla.
• Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water (or in a glass bowl in a microwave at 50 percent power 3 to 5 minutes), stirring frequently. Whisk custard into chocolate until smooth, then cool.
• Beat remaining 1 1/4 cups cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds stiff peaks. Whisk one fourth of cream into chocolate custard to lighten, then fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly.
• Spoon mousse into 8 (6-ounce) stemmed glasses or ramekins and chill, covered, at least 6 hours. Let stand at room temperature about 20 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
• 2. Place six 4-ounce ovenproof cups (you can use ramekins, or coffee cups marked as oven-safe) in a deep baking pan just large enough to hold them.
• 3. In a medium saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• 4. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks, sugar, and vanilla.
• 5. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the simmering milk, whisking gently to combine.
• 6. Pour the mixture through a fine strainer into the cups (if the strainer clogs, use a spoon to scrape it clean), then sprinkle lightly with the nutmeg.
• 7. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cups.
• 8. Bake until the custard is just set (it can still be a little loose), 30 to 35 minutes.
• 9. Let the custard cool in the water bath for about 2 hours before serving.