I remember watching an episode of the ‘Twightlight Zone’ sometime in my impressionable youth that has stayed with me. The gist of the scenario in the episode was that if you are bad in your mortal life, you will go on when you die to a horribly awful fate. You will be stuck watching slide shows of someone else’s vacation for eternity.
There is one more little, teensy thing I want to mention about my recent vacation. I promise there are no family photos posing with signs for attractions or other meaningless situations that I myself don’t want to experience again let alone put you through. It’s more a little idea that popped to mind and a recipe to go along with it.
My creative process is very mercurial and often spontaneous. I might be nudged by a time of year, a change in the weather or new produce items I’ve never met. Or a color. Or a phrase someone mentions to me. Or in this case two little cups I found in the French Pavilion at Disney World’s Epcot.
I love to travel. I’d do it all the time if I could. And I will say Epcot’s World Showcase is the closest one can come to traveling the world (certainly in one day and far less expensively than doing it all). I’m not suggesting one shouldn’t do the real thing just that if you need an international travel fix, Disney will give you a good one. I mentioned in my prior post about Best Tips & Tricks to Maximizing the Disney World Experience, that Disney employees citizen of the countries in the World Showcase and brings them to the U.S. for a period of 9 months to service their native country recreated. The architecture styles are taken from the countries and replayed at Epcot. The food is authentically reproduced. The shopping is very fun, with each pavilion stocked with goods from that country.
While at the French Pavilion shop I was smitten with a number of items. These cups with the map of the Paris metro were too good to leave behind. They reminded me of a t-shirt my Grandparents has purchased on a trip to London as a Christmas gift for my Uncle with a map of London’s Tube (subway). I l-o-v-e-d the shirt beyond description. I was secretly sad when all the gifts had been opened and one did not lie beneath the tree for me. I was in college at the time and when I was unloading my car on campus after the break I found a curious item wadded up on the floor of the back seat. I took it out and much to my shock it was the t-shirt that my Uncle had hidden away for me to have instead of keeping it himself. Sniff.
I knew exactly what I would do with these darling cups as soon as returned home. Make a French dessert to share with you in them! I wanted something luscious and creamy and seasonal. I decided on a version of Pots de Crème (translated ‘pots of cream’, really a custard) though I would not bake it in a water bath as is traditional. My version would cook on the stove top and chill in the cups instead. I decided to top them with a Fresh Cherry Sauce made with some special Flathead Cherries from Montana available at my local market only a few weeks of the year. Certainly the Colorado cherries are fantastic though last summer when driving to Canada we passed through the area where these cherries are grown so weaving in the travel theme made them the right choice for me!
Recipe
{No Bake} Vanilla Bean Pots de Creme with Fresh Cherry Sauce
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Vanilla Bean Pots de Crème:
- 1 cup Half and Half
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 Vanilla Bean , split lengthwise
- 3 tablespoons granulated Sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 6 Egg Yolks , whisked
Ingredients for Fresh Cherry Sauce:
- 1 cup fresh Cherries , pitted and quartered
- 1 tablespoon granulated Sugar
- 2 + 1 tablespoons of Water
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 2-3 teaspoons Lime Juice , freshly squeezed
Instructions
Instructions for Vanilla Bean Pots de Crème:
- Place the whisked egg yolks in a medium, heat proof bowl. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over Medium-Low heat, combine the half and half, cream vanilla bean, sugar and salt. Heat mixture, stirring often, until almost coming to a simmer.
- Slowly pour the cream mixture into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking constantly to combine.
- Return mixture to the saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and coats the stirring spoon (about 10 minutes). Turn off the heat.
- Remove the vanilla bean and scrape the inside into the custard; whisk or stir to fully combine. Return the outer bean to the custard as well and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
- Remove the vanilla bean and pour the custard into the serving cups desired. Chill until fully solid (2-3 hours). Best served chilled.
Instructions for Fresh Cherry Sauce:
- In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of the water. Whisk to combine.
- In a small saucepan over Medium-Low heat, combine the cherries, 2 tablespoons of the water and the sugar. Stir until combined and sugar dissolves; about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the cornstarch mixture into the cherry mixture; stir to combine. Place back onto low heat, stirring often, until t he mixture thickens (usually a few minutes due to the small size of the recipe).
- Remove from heat and add the fresh lime juice. Stir to fully combine. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving.
- Add a dollop of cherry sauce to the top of the Pots de Crème and serve.
Nick says
FINALLY a pot de creme recipe that’s not a baked custard! Loved it.
Theresa says
I love that this is no bake!
Kristen says
Just so completely and totally lovely!
I miss Epcot.
Toni Dash says
Thank you Kristen! Epcot really is fantastic. Disney has an unparalleled skill in creating an ‘experience’ and I appreciate the chance to feel I’m traveling the world when I don’t have the chance to do so. I love that they fold in native countrymen/woman to ensure an authentic feel and all the fun shopping options too!
Laura Dembowski says
Love that these are no bake and easy to make! The cherry sauce is the perfect addition!
Helene D'souza says
I would have picked up the cups too, they are pretty cool Toni.
Oui je veux des Pots de Crème svp! =D I like the idea of cherry sauce too, must be tasting incredible.
Jennifer-The Adventuresome Kitchen says
omg! I *love* those cups!!! I have got to find a pair! We bought tiny cups in Paris- but I like these better! How absolutely sweet! Do you drink espresso in them every day?? What a lovely recipe- and I like the shortcut. I need all the food shortcuts I can get these days. So glad you had such a lovely visit- I have to say, your posts are slowly changing my mind about Disney. A dear friend I grew up with had an awful experience with them as an employee, so I’ve been sour on them for years. But reading about your experiences, and how easy it is to be GF there has had me softening on them a bit!
Adri says
The deal with me is I adore vanilla custard. So this is right up my alley. The dish is so pretty. The cherries sound marvelous, and your presentation with the cool cups and altogether clever spoons is really beautiful.
Toni Dash says
Thank you Adri! The spoons are also French made. I love all of it; they beg to be used with something fun! I too love the vanilla bean flavor of this which is rich enough, but not too much!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
Everything tastes better with cherries on top. These cute little cups really steal the show. Sounds like you had a fabulous trip!
Toni Dash says
I agree Abbé on all fronts! It was a good trip and I really do love the departure Epcot offers. Glad you like the cups too!
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
I’ve never been to Disney World or Land. Can you believe that? We’re hoping to do a trip to Disney World in the next year, while Dudette’s still young. I love the little cups too and would have snatched them up if I had seen them. Heck, put that dessert in front of me and see what happens. 🙂
Toni Dash says
I think you are smart to wait until ‘D’ is older. That way she can ride all the rides and will have a bit more stamina. It’s really fun but to get it all done one needs staying power. Do hang on to these tips and I guarantee you’ll get more done with less waiting!
Jaime the German granddaughter says
Yum!! Crème Brulé is my favorite dessert this looks easy and really similar I will have to try it 🙂 I love the cups! I always get a small meaningful kitchen item when I’m on vacation too.
Toni Dash says
This is very similar Jaime without the hard top layer. I do love mementos that gently slip into the post vacation daily routine to remind of the trip in an ordinary way!