Basic stovetop cream filling for cakes and pastries.

Steps

1. Put sugar, flour and salt in a small heavy saucepan. Stir in milk.
2. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture thickens (about 5 minutes).
3. Add beaten egg yolk. Cook and stir 3 minutes longer, chill and flavour.

Notes

• Banana cream filling: add 1 oz sieved banana and 2 tbsp lemon juice.
• Coffee cream filling: flavour to taste with instant coffee.
• Chocolate cream filling: increase sugar to 1 cup; scald milk with 2 oz unsweetened chocolate or 1/3 cup cocoa; add 1/4 tsp vanilla.
• Mocha cream filling: follow chocolate cream filling and add instant coffee.