Name: Floating Islands
Yield: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise; 2 cups whole milk; 6 large egg yolks; 1/2 cup sugar; 2 cups whole milk; 4 large egg whites; Pinch of salt; 1/4 cup sugar; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/4 cup water

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Floating IslandsBrian Leatart

Îles flottantes, puffy clouds of softly poached meringue floating on a vanilla custard sauce, may look ethereal on the plate, but this is really a homey French farmhouse dessert. It was probably devised to make ingenious use of fresh farm eggs and milk, plus a little sugar.

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