Lemon Curd

Preparations continue for the holiday gift baskets with this tasty treat: Lemon Curd. For anyone who's never seen or tasted it, lemon curd will come as a surprise. It's roughly the same consistency as custard, but a brighter yellow and the scent of lemon wafting from the mix can transport you right back into summer...a nice treat during the cold winter months.

It is great on scones, on pastries or you can use it as filling layers for a cake.











Lemon Curd
Makes 1 serving.
Ingredients

1/3	cup lemon juice plus zest, from 2 lemons
2	large eggs
1	egg yolk
1/2	cup sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
2	tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 1/2-inch cubes and chilled
1	tablespoon heavy cream
1/4	teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Heat lemon juice and zest in small nonreactive saucepan over medium heat until hot but not boiling. Whisk eggs and yolk in medium nonreactive bowl; gradually whisk in sugar. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot lemon juice into eggs, then return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture registers 170 degrees on instant-read thermometer and is thick enough to cling to spoon, about 3 minutes.

2. Immediately remove pan from heat and stir in cold butter until incorporated; stir in cream, vanilla, and salt, then pour curd through fine-mesh strainer into small nonreactive bowl. Cover surface of curd directly with plastic wrap or pour into sterile jars and seal; refrigerate until needed.

The curd will keep for about a month in the refrigerator.