Baked banana and coconut custard and big fat liars
I’ve always had a certain empathy where animals are concerned. I’m sometimes even convinced that I know exactly what they’re thinking, or what they’d be trying to say if they could talk. This past week though I’ve been well and truly had: It turns out that our animals are a bunch of thieving, pathological liars who are on the way to becoming morbidly obese. Be it horses, dogs or hens, they all put on a really dejected, gaunt and hungry look as soon as they catch sight of me. I curse my husband for not having fed them and dispense generous helpings of sympathy and food until I’m satisfied that they’re not going to fade away from neglect. This means that instead of being fed twice a day, they end up being fed four times (at least!). And all because I fancy myself as some kind of present day Dr Dolittle.
I had to concoct a recipe that didn’t call for too many eggs as Java (our ten-month-old English Setter puppy) has taken to pinching them the minute they’re laid. I managed to retrieve a stray yolk for this recipe and was very pleased with the result…
Ingredients (makes 4-6 ramekins)
30g rye flour (you can use plain flour)
30g dessicated coconut
400ml coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 egg yolk
1 large ripe banana, mashed with a few drops of lemon juice to prevent oxidation
50g cane sugar
40g raisins previously soaked in rum (optional)
Approx. 30 frozen raspberries (or raspberry jam)
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Prepare the ramekins by lining the bottom with six or seven frozen raspberries or a tablespoon of raspberry jam. Put the flour, dessicated coconut, coconut milk, vanilla essence and nutmeg into a heavy-bottomed medium-sized saucepan and heat gently, whisking continuously until the mixture thickens. Add the egg yolk, mashed banana, sugar and raisins and return to the heat, again whisking well, for a few minutes. Pour the mixture into the ramekins, filling to about 1cm from the top. Bake for 20 minutes and then chill for a couple of hours before eating.
13 Comments
apuginthekitchen
I know exactly how that is. They are smart right, they know what to do to get extra meals. Smart little buggers. They are happily over fed until you figure out whats going on.
Your custard is lovely, healthy and makes a wonderful light dessert. Really Java eats raw eggs after they are laid. Too funny!
The Healthy Epicurean
She really does! We thought that the hens had stopped laying until one day she broke one and we realised what was happening. She also steals raw potatoes – anyone would think we weren’t feeding her enough but I think she’s just naughty (surprise surprise!). Thanks – the custard really is delicious comfort food. 🙂
Gerlinde
Eating can be such a pleasure even for animals. I love light and fluffy custards. We always had different ones in Germany for our Sunday meal.
The Healthy Epicurean
What a treat to have a different one every Sunday! 🙂
Joyce Rebecca Nicholsl
hmm sounds like my cats, the squirrels in the yard all 8 or 9 that come straight to the door in the morning and the odd raccoon who pops in for a feed if he can find it. Going to try your desert tonight
The Healthy Epicurean
Yes we have very hungry birds too! I really hope ypu enjoy it as much as I do… Let me know what ypu think 🙂
Just Add Attitude
There must be a school where animals learn these tricks. I know of a super large cat who is not overfed by its owner. I suspect the clever cat has master the art of ‘persuading’ the neighbours he hasn’t been fed for days. The baked custards sound delicious. 😉
Kate
Another one I’m going to try for my pudding club with the girls. We now have a system to show if we have fed Murphy as he has ‘that look’ to a tee!
The Healthy Epicurean
A system sounds like a good idea – I think we need a system… I really hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 🙂
Stacey Bender
But they are obviously cute, big fat, pathological liars. Or perhaps they are cute and very, very clever. i have a pair of furry friends that play the same trick but I am suckered into feeding them again even though it was I that fed them the first time, and the second.
By the way, I have been meaning to welcome Java into our little world and look forward to antics with Hugo and company. Congrats!
The Healthy Epicurean
Ah thank you Stacey – she’s very sweet even if she does steal eggs!
Stacey Bender
…and banana custards, yum!
The Healthy Epicurean
Yum is right 😉