Pudding Head Leslie Clark is crowned by judge Damon Herring. Courtesy of the Recorder.
Last week the Sons & Daughters of Hawley, the historical society in my small town, hosted the intermittent but always highly enjoyable Pudding Hollow Pudding Festival.
This event started out as the launching event for my Pudding Hollow Cookbook—and kept going because it was so much darn fun on its own. The person who wins the pudding contest that is the centerpiece of the festival is dubbed the new Pudding Head.
This year’s Pudding Head actually lives in the Hawley’s Pudding Hollow district, the home of Abigail Baker, who won a pudding contest in Hawley in about 1780. (Note: I’m old, but I’m not that old. Her pudding contest was the inspiration for, not the launch of, my book.)
Leslie Clark moved to town in August and lives right next door to me! She is proving to be a terrific neighbor and a darn good cook.
Here is Leslie’s prize-winning recipe. I haven’t tasted it yet, but from the judges’ reactions and from the ingredients, I know I will love it.
Remember readers, you have only five years to work on your recipes for the next festival! (Next year, the Sons & Daughters plan a men’s pie-baking contest.)
This event isn’t just delicious. It’s also a tribute to the power of community … and of course of food!
Leslie’s Luscious Coconut Cream Custard
from 2014 Pudding Head Leslie Clark of Hawley, Massachusetts
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
5 eggs
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (5.4-ounce) can coconut cream
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup shredded coconut
Instructions:
Met the sugar in a pan with the cinnamon. Spread this melted syrup in the bottom and sides of a baking bowl, reserving about 1/4 cup for later decoration. Allow to cool.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Using a hand or electric mixer, blend the eggs, liquids, and nutmeg for 5 minutes. Pour this mixture into the sugar-lined baking bowl. Top with shredded coconut uniformly.
Bake in a bain marie (hot-water bath) for 1 hour, or until a knife inserted into the custard comes out clean.
Re-melt the reserved sugar and cinnamon, and drizzle them on top of the cooked custard. Sprinkle a little extra coconut on top. Allow to cool before serving. (This pudding is best served at room temperature.)
Serves 8. (Servings should be small; this pudding is rich!)
Tags: Coconut Custard, Hawley Massachusetts, Leslie Clark, Pudding Hollow Pudding Festival
