Raspberry Trifle

Serves 4
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups Fresh Raspberries
1/3 cup Raspberry Jam
1/3 cup Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
20 ladyfinger cookies
2 cups milk
1/2 vanilla bean
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
pinch salt
1 cup heavy cream
a sprinkling of toasted almonds

My grandmother makes a gorgeous trifle. Hers is the genuine English version with Bird's Custard and Rountree Jelly. I adapted her recipe for the ingredients available in the U.S.
Put a metal bowl and the whisks in the freezer (for the whippe cream) and continue with the rest of the recipe. For the custard: In a saucepan heat the milk and vanilla, bring to a boil. Turn off heat, allow to sit 10 mins. In a bowl whisk eggs, 1/4 cup sugar, salt. Whisk the milk into the egg mixture. Now heat on medium heat, stirring constantly for 10 mins. Chill in refrigerator. Soak ladyfingers in a bowl with the Raspberry Liqueur. Arrange one layer of ladyfingers on the bottom of 4 small dessert glasses. In another bowl mix the fresh raspberries with the raspberry jam. Set aside. Now take the chilled metal bowl and whisks out of the freezer. Beat the heavy cream and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until stiff peaks form. I like to start by adding a few ladyfingers in the glass vertically for decoration. They should stick because they are wet with the liqueur. Now add a layer of whipped cream, a layer of raspberries, a layer of custard, a layer of ladyfingers, cream, raspberries, custard. Finish off with a layer of whipped cream. Add fresh raspberries on top to decorate and sprinkle with toasted almonds.