QUESO, QUINCE & QUESILLO - A recipe for the A-Z Challenge.

QUESO = Cheese. Most of the local cheese in Tenerife is made from goat milk – cows don’t live happily in our climate and any there are have to be kept indoors or they get sunburned. The supermarkets stock Gouda and Cheddar but we also like the local cheeses – even the fresh white cheese loses its rubbery texture when fried and served with jam 

QUINCE JAM - Membrillo is something I had never encountered before coming to Teneirfe, but every supermarket stocks these slabs of sticky brown quince jam. The traditional way to eat it is in slices on top of cheese.

QUESILLO – continuing the food theme tor today, quesillo is my favourite pudding when eating out. It is similar to flan, which is a caramel egg custard, but the texture is less smooth. You can also get quesillo almendra which is made with ground almonds. Every quesillo is slightly different because they are almost always homemade.

I made some today just so that I could take a photograph – the sacrifices I make in the interests of research!

This is my recipe, though I only used half quantities to make about a pint of pudding.

QUESILLO CANARIO

4 large eggs, 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoon water 350g can condensed milk, then use the condensed milk tin to measure two of fresh milk, juice of ½ lemon, 2 teaspoons powdered cinnamon.

* Dissolve sugar in water over low heat then boilrapidly without stirring until golden brown. Use this caramel to line a well-buttered bowl.

* Separate eggs. Beat the whites till frothy then mix in yolks.

* Add condensed milk and fresh milk, beat well.

* Finally add lemon juice and cinnamon.

* Pour into caramelised bowl and cook in a bain marie at̊ 180̊ for 60 – 90 minutes.

* Cool in bowl and turn out just before serving. The caramel will run down the side so make sure the serving dish is deep enough.

* You can serve it with cream and/or dark berries, but I prefer it neat. It slides down easily even after a huge barbecue.