Custard's the cream!

THE delicious aroma of custard bubbling in a pan seconds before being poured over an apple tart or rhubarb crumble is enough to send most people's taste buds into overdrive.

A survey by leading custard makers Bird's reveals that 30 per cent of people in the north of England voted custard as their favourite dessert topping, compared with the cool reception given to ice cream with 14 per cent of the votes.

Now Bird's Custard Powder has teamed up with TV dish Phil Vickery, a celebrity chef who has made numerous appearances on Ready, Steady, Cook, Masterchef and Who'll Do The Pudding?

Phil, who has developed a series of 10 recipes exclusively for Bird's Custard Powder, said: "There are only two ways to make real custard. One is to make real egg custard and the other is the Bird's method."

Anyone who would like a copy of Phil's Bird Custard Powder recipes should send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Birds/Cohn and Wolfe PR, 30 Orange Street, London WC2H 7LZ.