A journey to the past....with dessert of course!

Okay, it's new recipe time.
I was sitting at the kitchen table with my mom and my sister Paula and my sister's mother in law Sue, when my mom starts telling us about this Puerto Rican dessert that my great grandmother, Bella, used to make. My mother is busy telling how she has not been able to replicate this decadent, custard-like dessert called natilla but my great grandmother used to make it for the kids as a treat. My great grandmother did not like to make dessert too often but this one made an impression because my mother spoke so fondly of this dessert and how she enjoyed it so when Bella would make it. I was immediately intrigued by a Puerto Rican dessert because we are Puerto Rican but the only ethnic dessert I have ever made was my mother's flan (which came out soooo delicious). My sister and I pulled out my mothers Puerto Rican Cookery cookbook written my Carmen Aboy Valldejuli and we searched for this natilla dish. We looked....and looked....and......

we found it!!

Natilla
Serves 4

1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks (Yes just yolks, this helps to thicken the dish. You can always use the whites for an omelet for breakfast. I love egg white omelette's with red and green peppers and ham and cheese mmmhhh, I suppose my egg white omelette's are not healthy but they taste yummy)
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 thin cinnamon stick
1 lime or lemon peel, rinsed and drained

In a saucepan, blend the cornstarch and salt with part of the milk. Add the egg yolks and mix well. Add remaining milk, sugar, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel. Place the saucepan over moderate high heat and bring to a brisk boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Remove immediately and strain into a dessert bowl or 4 individual cups. Allow to cool on counter and set in the refrigerator. Sprinkle some powdered cinnamon over the natilla before you serve it, maybe place a little bit of lemon peel for decoration...whatever you like!


I made this moments after we found the recipe in the cookbook. It came out so delicious!! The texture reminds me of a pudding or a custard but lighter. It is a bit sweet so you can adjust the sugar a bit ( I would not add 1/2 a cup of sugar next time, just a little bit less than that for my taste). My mother LOVED it! She said it tasted just like my Bella's dessert. Bella loved Natilla, and now we all do too! Although she has been gone for quite some time now, we can all share this recipe and when we whip up this tasty and simple dessert, we can think of her.Thanks Bella!