Flavored Pastry Cream

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 cups milk

1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped

3 eggs

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons chopped bittersweet chocolate

1 1/2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 tablespoon finely chopped toasted almonds

1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

Preparation

For pastry cream: Mix flour and sugar together. Heat milk and vanilla bean to scalding in a heavy saucepan. Add 1/2 cup hot milk to flour and sugar. Beat until smooth and return to saucepan. Beat the eggs lightly and temper by adding 1/2 cup of the milk mixture to the eggs, then beat well.

Return the tempered eggs to the remaining milk mixture and cook over medium heat until the mixture reaches the consistency of thickened pudding. Remove from heat, add butter.