Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split in 1/2 lengthwise and seeds scraped out
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup cornstarch, measured, then sifted

Directions

In a medium, heavy
saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, vanilla bean pods and seeds, orange zest and juice.
Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the
heat.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and cornstarch until pale yellow, about 2
minutes. Slowly add 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks, whisking constantly
until smooth. Add the egg yolk mixture to the pan of hot milk and whisk to combine. Return
to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a heavy wooden spoon until the mixture
thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes.

Remove from the heat and strain into a clean container, scraping the bottom of the
strainer with a spoon. Discard the vanilla bean or rinse and reserve for another use.
Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
Refrigerate until well chilled, about 3 hours, before using.