Snow Pudding with Custard Sauce

It snowed in Havre, Montana yesterday. All day. The radio issued traffic reports and road closures. Spaghetti dinners were cancelled. Lutheran church services were cancelled. We were advised not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary. (I think going to a spaghetti dinner would constitute a necessity for driving!)

I must admit that I felt a little trapped; somewhat claustrophobic; and fearful that this white stuff might never melt and my twice-weekly trips to Wal-Mart would come undone!

I stood at the door and watched the snow come down. Watched it swirl around in the air coming in from all directions, creating drifts against the door. Ack! The door is blocked! How do we get out??

"This is ridiculous!" I muttered more than once, and to no one in particular.

My gardener was unconcerned about the weather, so I made soup for dinner and thought about the desert and the 70 degree December weather I left behind.

Today it was sunny and bright. This morning, as my gardener was shoveling a path to civilization, it was -14 degrees with a wind chill of -34. Hmmm, I wonder what -34 feels like. I stepped outside to take a picture and I'm here to tell you that -34 feels cold. Very cold. The wussy winter clothing I bought this year to prepare myself for the cold ain't gonna cut it. I'm tellin' ya that for free.

See my gardener in that picture there? Now he's prepared... snow suit, boots, gloves, hat. I have no snow suit. That's why he has to shovel and I... can't... because, well, I just don't have the right clothing. Otherwise, I would. I definitely would be out there with the best of them shoveling snow... if I had the right clothing... but...

Snow Pudding with Custard Sauce is a recipe my Mom used to make when we were kids. It's so delicious... so light... so lemony... and so yummy with the custard sauce, that I just had to make it today. In honor of all things snow.
Just a few ingredients. Lemon juice, sugar, salt, corn starch and eggs!

Combine the sugar, salt and boiling water. Blend the cornstarch and cold water. Add the cornstarch/water mixture to the sugar mixture in a saucepan and heat to boiling. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. It'll turn kind of opaque and will become very thick. Cornstarch never ceases to amaze me.

Now, beat 2 eggs whites...
... until stiff!
In a separate bowl, fold in the egg whites and lemon juice with the cornstarch mixture...
... until it's all combined and looks like this. Now you can put it in one big bowl, or put it in individual cups and refrigerate.

Time to make the custard (which is SO good you'll be eating it with a spoon even before the pudding is set - I promise!) Combine some sugar and cornstarch, then combine egg yolk and scalded milk. Mix all that together and heat...

... until slightly thickened. This is some good stuff, Bubba.
When the pudding is the consistency of Jell-O, it's ready for the creamy custard sauce. My Mom served us snow pudding in these little cups. Right now my sisters are saying "Oh my gosh... I remember those!!" - but only if they read my blog. Otherwise they don't have a clue that I ended up with these cuties.
They're SunFrost Therm-o-ware (dishwasher safe and unbreakable, made in Canada) from the early 60's.

Whether it's snowing in your neck of the woods or not, I know you're going to love this Snow Pudding and I hope you give it a try! You can find the recipe right here.

Do you have any Therm-o-ware - or dishes that you ate from as a child? If you do, I'd love to see pictures!

And if you live in snow country... take it from me... refuse to wear anything but capris and sandals (all year long!) and never-ever buy adequate cold-weather clothing!