CUSTARD
    30 fl Milk
     1    Vanilla Pod
     8    Egg Yolks
   100 g  Caster Sugar
ICE CREAM
   225 g  Toffee
   125 ml Double Cream
   250 g  Frozen Puff Pastry;
          -(defrosted)
     4 lg Bananas; (peeled and sliced
          ; diagonally
Custard
 1. Put the milk and vanilla pod in a saucepan and warm gently. In a
 large bowl, whisk the egg yolks and caster sugar until thick and
 creamy. Whisk the warm milk into the egg mixture, return to the heat,
 stir continuously without boiling, until the mixture coats the back
 of the spoon. Strain the custard and cool.
 2. Place the toffee in a bag and using a rolling pin, bash into small
 pieces. Transfer 6 tablespoons of the custard to a small dish and put
 to one side. Pour the remaining custard into a freezerproof container
 and partly freeze for 5 hours. Whisk the double cream until soft,
 then fold into the custard with the toffee pieces. Return to the
 freezer overnight, stirring occasionally.
Ice Cream
 3. When the ice cream is frozen, roll out the pastry to 5mm thick and
 cut 8 small circles, approximately 10 cm in diameter, generously
 prick the surface of each disc, then place on a lightly greased
 baking sheet. Leave in the refrigerator for at least half an hour.
 Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 7 / 425f / 220c.
 4. Divide the reserved custard between the 8 pastry circles and then
 arrange the banana slices in a circle, leaving a tiny gap around the
 edge. Brush each tart with a little butter and dredge with icing
 sugar. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes, or until
 thoroughly browned.
5. Puff pastry needs a quick hot temperature.
 6. To serve, place the tarts on serving plates and arrange scoops of
 ice cream by the side. Dust with icing sugar
                 
                 Yields       
                8 servings                
