6 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt, if desired
4 cups skim or 1% low-fat milk, divided *
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large saucepan, beat together eggs, sugar, salt, and 2 cups of the milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon with a thin film and reaches 160° F, about 14 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in remaining 2 cups milk and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, several hours or overnight. Enjoy as is or use as directed in recipe above.

*For faster preparation, heat milk until very warm before stirring milk into eggs and sugar.

Grnishes and Stir-ins: Chocolate curls, whipping cream, cinnamon sticks, extracts, orange slices, nutmeg, cinnamon, peppermint sticks, fruit juice, flavored brandy or liqueur, rum or whiskey may be added to taste.

Recipe and photo source: American Egg Board