Meyer Lemon Soufflés

Ingredients

• 8 (about 2 lb.) Meyer lemons
• About 4 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup half-and-half
• About 1 cup granulated sugar
• 6 large eggs, separated
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons powdered sugar

Preparation

1. 1. Grate 2 1/2 teaspoons peel and ream 1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup juice from lemons; set aside.
2. 2. Lightly butter 6 ramekins, 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-cup size. Evenly space in a 10- by 15-inch rimmed baking pan.
3. 3. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a 2- to 3-quart pan over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour, then half-and-half and 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Whisk constantly until mixture comes to a boil; boil 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Whisk in 1/3 cup lemon juice, yolks, and 2 teaspoons lemon peel.
4. 4. In the bowl of a mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, just until whites hold straight, glossy peaks when beaters are lifted.
5. 5. Stir about 1 cup egg whites into yolk mixture, then gently fold yolk mixture into whites until no streaks remain. Spoon mixture evenly into ramekins (they'll be full).
6. 6. For a creamy texture, bake in a 375° oven until softly set (when gently shaken, soufflés should ripple in center only), 12 to 13 minutes. For a drier texture, bake 20 minutes.
7. 7. Meanwhile, in a 1- to 2-quart pan, combine cornstarch and 6 tablespoons granulated sugar. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup lemon juice. Stir over medium-high heat until bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel.
8. 8. Sift powdered sugar over soufflés. At the table, spoon a hole in the center of each soufflé and pour in sauce.