Comfort Food

My 19 year old son is sick. Paul is a guy who loves motors and motorcycles and dirt bikes. For the first time in his life he is attending a school that he loves. The Motorcycle Mechanics' Institute schedules classes so people with full time jobs can study at night. He attends class from about 6pm to 11:30. That's when his brain works the best. The classes are taught in short (2-3 week) segments. There is lots of hands-on lab work on real motorcycle engines. The work is practical and the theory parts of the courses are closely tied to real-time application. Paul is usually in his element. But this week he's come home dragging from his job at Sears repairing small engines for yard machines. His throat is so sore that he doesn't want to swallow, his nose is plugged, his ears have fluid in them. Finally this afternoon(Friday) he cried "Uncle" and had us schedule him in for a doctor appointment at the clinic at a nearby hospital where you get seen on time and the front office staff are as good and competent at their work as the physicians are at theirs. Paul was so tired that I drove him. He was seen promptly, and tested negative for strep. The doctor wants him to get blood drawn tomorrow to see if he's got mononucleosis. I asked him if he'd mentioned to his doctor that he left home soon after 6 am and returned from class at night just before midnight, with an hour to take a quick nap between work and school. That might explain the exhaustion. Hmmm. (Paul failed to mention it.)

I can hardly begin to say how nice it was to be able to step in and take care of him without having to juggle work responsibilities. When we got home, he climbed into bed and we didn't see him for about 3 hours. I bought his nasal spray, throat lozenges, applesauce, ice cream, popsicles, and ingredients to make him things that would slide smoothly down the throat.

Like this custard that I improvised, that is perhaps the best custard I have ever made.

Ghirardelli White Chocolate Custard

3 1/3 cups milk
2/3 cup heavy cream (nothing sacred about these proportions, but I had 1% milk and wanted something richer)
1 pkg. Ghirardelli white chocolate chips
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

3 eggs
2/3 c sugar

Heat first 5 ingredients in a heavy saucepan, whisking vigorously as the white chocolate chips melt.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs vigorously with a whisk. Add the sugar and beat some more.

When the milk mixture is just beginning to boil, turn the heat way down (gas stove) or off (electric stove).

Add the egg-and-sugar mixture in a thin stream, whisking continually. Add heat VERY GENTLY if by now the custard is not coating a spoon and thickening. Quit while you're ahead.

Pour into dish, and cover surface directly with parchment paper or plastic wrap to prevent development of a "skin."

Spoon over fresh sliced strawberries or raspberries.

Paul almost didn't wake up in time to get any because I had some ("just to see if it was okay") and Wayne had two helpings. It is VERY sweet, and really needs some fairly tart fruit for the contrast. When Paul did wake up, he thanked us for getting "all that stuff" for him. I hope he feels better soon, but I admit to having had fun mothering him. Maybe 48 hours of rest will help.