My mum made the best custard. As the youngest, I would often get my pudding first. I would have my bowl licked clean before she had finished serving my siblings and then I would convince her that she had forgotten to give me mine. She fell for it every time. I think she probably went without in order to feed me twice. Sorry mum.

Ready

• 1 pint milk
• 2fl oz single cream
• 1 vanilla pod, sliced open
• 4 egg yolks
• 1oz caster sugar
• 2 level tsp cornflour

Set

• Saucepan
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Whisk

Go

1. Combine the milk, cream and the vanilla pod in a pan. Bring it almost to boiling point and let it simmer over a low heat for a few minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whisk the yolks with the sugar and cornflour until combined well.
3. Remove the vanilla pod from the liquid and pour the creamy mixture slowly over the eggs and sugar. Make sure you whisk constantly to avoid lumps.
4. Return the whole thing to the pan and, over a very low heat, stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens to your desired consistency.
5. Eat it immediately poured over a delicious apple pie.

What you should know

If you don’t have a vanilla pod to hand, add a little less than a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the combined milk and egg mixture.