Il Moro’s Savage Cream

DEAR SOS: Could you prevail on the chef at Il Moro Italian restaurant in West Los Angeles to share his recipe for vanilla cream? It’s to die for.

H.J. SCARVERDE

Santa Monica

DEAR H.J.: Ditto. This rich Italian custard is my favorite as well. Fat calories in this dessert may be reason for pause for some, but those who can afford them will enjoy.

Il Moro Crema di Vaniglia

Active Work Time: 15 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 6 hours

10 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 quart whipping cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

* Beat egg yolks and sugar until creamy. Stir in milk, cream and vanilla. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Skim foam off surface.

* Pour into 8 (6-ounce) baking cups. Place in 13x9-inch baking pan filled halfway with hot water. Cover entire pan with foil. Pierce foil in several places to allow steam to escape. Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 1 hour.

* Remove foil and cool 1 hour before placing cups in refrigerator to cool completely, about 2 hours.

8 servings. Each serving: 572 calories; 63 mg sodium; 506 mg cholesterol; 52 grams fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams protein; 0.00 grams fiber.

The Ham Loaf That Got Away

DEAR SOS: I lent my recipe for ham loaf to a friend, and it disappeared. It contained evaporated milk and cracker crumbs.

JOANNE FREDERICK

Monrovia

DEAR JOANNE: This sounds like the recipe you describe. If not, we’ll try again.

Ham Loaf

Active Work Time: 25 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 2 hours

1 1/2 pounds ground ham

1 pound lean ground pork

2 eggs

1/2 cup cracker crumbs

1/4 cup ketchup

1 (13-ounce) can evaporated milk, chilled

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup prepared horseradish

2 tablespoons minced parsley

2 teaspoons prepared mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

* Mix ham, pork, eggs, cracker crumbs, ketchup and 1 1/4 cups milk lightly but thoroughly. Pack meat mixture into 9-inch square pan and bake at 325 degrees until cooked through and browned on top, about 1 1/2 hours.

* Chill remaining evaporated milk. When cold, whip until stiff. Combine mayonnaise, horseradish, parsley, mustard and salt and carefully fold into whipped cream. Chill well.

* Cut ham loaf into squares and serve hot, topping each square with horseradish sauce.

9 servings. Each serving: 379 calories; 1396 mg sodium; 130 mg cholesterol; 24 grams fat; 14 grams carbohydrates; 25 grams protein; 0.09 grams fiber;

Napkins and Pyrex custard cups from Sur La Table, Pasadena.