Christmastime for many is a time for family, and each family has those holiday traditions that they pass down year after year from one generation to the next. This year I would like to share a special holiday tradition in my family with your family. The majority of my family immigrated to the New World in the 17th century from England to begin a new life. They traveled through Virginia and the Carolinas, finally making a new home for themselves in Tennessee. While they left many family and friends behind, they brought some of their holiday traditions with them as a way of remembering all they had left behind. One of those traditions was Boiled Custard, a holiday drink served at Christmastime (and sometimes Easter) with a dash of nutmeg often served along side a slice of coconut cake. This tradition harkens back to a simpler time when Christmas revolved around good food, hard candy, apples, oranges, nuts, and perhaps a homemade toy or sweater. Generations of women in my family have served Boiled Custard at Christmastime, and although there have been alterations to the recipe over the centuries, the recipe I use today is the same basic recipe used by my great-grandmother when my family went to visit her for the holidays. In the last 75 years, many things have changed, but if you close your eyes you might could see with your mind’s eye the Christmas of long ago and the joy that such a treat brought!
For those of you completely unfamiliar with Boiled Custard, it tastes like melted ice cream and can be found at the grocery store next to the egg nog but in only a few states (Tennessee being one of them). For the rest of us, you have to make it yourself. The old-fashioned from scratch recipes can be a bit time consuming and tricky; however, my great-grandmother had a quickie recipe when she wanted to make some up quickly. Below I have provided her quickie recipe as well as a from scratch recipes I intend on trying this year if time allows.
My Great-Grandmother
1 large package of vanilla pudding mix (I use Cook and Serve)
2 quarts of whole milk
Make up vanilla pudding mix as directed. When finished, add the rest of the milk and refrigerate until cold. Serve and enjoy!
75 Year Old Boiled Custard Recipe
A Family Friend
1 qt. milk
3 or 4 eggs
1 T. flour
3/4 C. sugar
dash of salt
1 tsp. vanilla (add last)
Heat milk in double boiler until lukewarm. Don’t boil it…when you see steam rising up it is ready. Mix together flour and sugar first and then add the eggs to that. Add that mixture gradually to the milk mixture while stirring constantly. Cook until the mixture coats the spoon. Cook longer if you want thicker custard. Cook this on Med. or less….depends on the boiler. Cool completely, then refrigerate.
