Lemon Cup Custard

I got this new cookbook yesterday "Baking, From My House to Yours" by Dorrie Greenspan. It's chock full of lovely recipes. I made this last night and it's wonderfully rich with just a hint of lemon flavour. My husband really enjoyed it and so did I!

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄4 cups  whole milk
• 1  grated lemon, zest of
• 4  large eggs
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
•  pure  lemon extract (optional) or   extract (optional)

Directions

1. Put the milk and the lemon zest in a saucepan and bring just to the boil. Remove from heat, cover and set aside. Let sit for 30 minutes in order for the lemon flavour from the zest to infuse the milk.
2. Whisk the eggs together with the sugar. Strain the infused milk through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup. (Reserve the strainer with the lemon zest for a bit later)Whisking the whole time add the infused milk to the beaten eggs a little at a time in order to keep the eggs from cooking. Strain the mixture through the reserved lemon zest in the strainer back into the pan. Stir in lemon oil if using.
3. Place 6 large (3/4 cup size) custard cups in a large shallow roasting pan. Divide the custard mixture between cups. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water just until it comes halfway up the sides of the custard cups.
4. Carefully, place in a pre-heated 160*C/325*F oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until they jiggle only in the centre when you tap the cups lightly. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.