Vanilla Custard with Fresh Berry Topping

Yield:  6 Servings

TOPPING
1/3 cup water
3 Tbsp sugar
2 cups chopped berries

Mix 1/3 cup water and 3 Tbsp sugar in saucepan over medium heat, cook
3 minutes till sugar is dissolved.
Add 1 cup chopped berries, and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until mixture is syrupy, mashing berries with fork.
Remove from heat and stir in remaining berries.  Chill thoroughly.

CUSTARD
2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 ¼ cups whole milk
1 (6 inch) piece vanilla bean, split lengthwise
6 Tbsp sugar |
2 cups buttermilk
Garnish:   Mint leaves

Sprinkle gelatin over whole milk in a small saucepan; let stand for 10 minutes.
Scrape seeds from vanilla bean, and add seeds and bean to milk mixture.
Cook the milk mixture over medium-low heat 10 minutes until the gelatin dissolves, stirring constantly with a whisk.
Increase heat to medium, and add 6 tablespoons sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat, stir in buttermilk, remove and discard vanilla bean.  
Place about ½ cup custard mixture into each of 6 small glasses.   Cover and chill till set.

Top each serving with 3 tablespoons of topping.  Garnish with mint sprigs.

Nutritional Information per serving:  178 calories, 4.6 g fat, 30 g carb, 3 g fiber,  5.5 g protein