Clotted Cream

Directions

1. 1
   Fill a deep, wide-mouthed bowl with the cream and the milk.
2. 2
   Leave the mixture in the refrigerator for several hours (preferably overnight).
3. 3
   Heat the oven to 180 degrees F.
4. 4
   Boil several cups of water and pour it into a pan large enough to accomodate the bowl of milk.
5. 5
   Place the pan into the pre-heated oven.
6. 6
   Set the bowl of milk into the pan of water in the oven and leave until the top of the milk is crusted with a nubbly yellowish-cream surface.
7. 7
   (This will take at least 1 1/2 hours, but it is prudent to allow longer since this process varies depending on the fat content of the milk and cream).
8. 8
   Once the surface is nicely crusted, remove the bowl from the pan and cool it rapidly in a bowl of ice water.
9. 9
   Place the cooled bowl in the refrigerator until very cold.
10. 10
    Remove the crust from the cream with a skimmer or a large slotted spoon and put it into another bowl with a bit of the creamy liquid underneath; as the clotted cream firms up you will need to stir in the liquid to achieve a nice consistency.
11. 11
    Put the milk bowl back into the pan of water in the oven for a second crust to form, and add that in its turn to the first one.
12. 12
    Note: The left over milk is great to make rice pudding, or can be used in baking.