Caramelized Baked Custard - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar, caramelized**
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk, very hot (or regular soy milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup flaked coconut (optional)
nutmeg

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 1 quart baking dish or 4 ramekins.
Fill a 9x13 pan (or any shallow pan large enough to hold the baking dish) with 1 inch of hot water and set it in the oven.
**To caramelize the sugar: Melt the sugar in a heavy bottomed skillet without stirring. Swirl the sugar in the pan as it melts till caramel colored.
Pour about 1 tablespoons caramelized sugar into each ramekin, or all into baking dish and quickly swirl around to coat bottom and partly up sides.
The caramel will harden, but the custard will soften it as it bakes.
Beat the eggs together, then add the sugar and salt.
Slowly stir in the hot milk, stirring constantly.
Add the vanilla and coconut, if using.
Strain into the baking dish (if desired).
I usually just pour it all inches.
Sprinkle the top with nutmeg.
Put into the pan with hot water.
Bake for 55-60 minutes, until a knife comes out clean.