Individual Amaretto Flans Food

INDIVIDUAL FLANS

Steps:

• Divide coconut between 2 ungreased 6-oz. custard cups. Drizzle with caramel topping. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients; pour into custard cups., Place a steamer rack inside a large skillet. Pour water into skillet until it comes almost to the top of the rack. Place custard cups on rack. Bring to a boil; cover and steam until a knife inserted 1 in. from the edge comes out clean, 10-12 minutes. , Remove cups to a wire rack; let stand 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cup. Unmold flans onto dessert plates; serve warm.

INDIVIDUAL AMARETTO FLANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• In a small, heavy saucepan combine the 1/2 cup sugar and the water. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves, then keep cooking about 5 more minutes, until a nice golden brown. Immediately pour into 6 (6 oz.) custard cups, tilting so that the caramelized sugar coats the bottoms.
• Whisk together the remaining sugar, the eggs, salt and egg yolks.
• Heat milk over medium-high heat to 180 (tiny bubbles will form around the edge); don't let it boil. Gradually add hot milk to egg mixture, stirring with a whisk. Stir in liqueur. Strain through a sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Divide evenly into the custard cups.
• Place cups in the bottom of a broiler pan; add hot water to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 325 for 40 minutes or until centers barely move when cups are touched. Remove cups from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.
• To serve, loosen the edges of each flan with a knife. Cover each cup with a dessert plate (upside down), and invert flans onto plates.

MODERN MEXICAN CHOCOLATE FLAN

Steps:

• In a small heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar with 1/3 cup water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, using a pastry brush dipped in cold water to wash down any sugar crystals clinging to the side of the pot, then lower the heat and simmer, without stirring, until the syrup begins to color. Swirl the pan continually until the syrup is an even, deep amber color. Immediately divide the caramel among the ramekins, swirling so it coats the bottom of each.
• Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325°F.
• In the bowl of a food processor, process the chocolate until it resembles small pebbles. Transfer to a medium saucepan and add the half-and-half, milk, cinnamon stick, and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Place over moderate heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat, cover, and let steep for 20 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, coffee liqueur, and the vanilla and almond extracts and whisk to combine. Slowly pour about 1 1/2 cups of the hot milk/half-and-half mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Add in the rest of the hot milk and whisk to combine. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl and divide evenly among the 8 ramekins. Discard solids.
• Transfer ramekins to a large roasting pan and add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the pan with foil and bake until the custard has barely set (a knife inserted halfway between the edge and the center should come out clean), 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the water bath, then refrigerate to chill thoroughly. DO AHEAD: The flans can be made ahead and stored, wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator, up to 3 days.
• Just before serving, run a small thin knife around each flan, then invert onto small plates and serve.

BAKED BRIE WITH AMARETTO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, amaretto, and almonds.
• Place brie on a microwave safe plate.
• Pour amaretto mixture over brie.
• Microwave on high for 30 second intervals until cheese is soft. (You probably need about 60 secs.) Be careful not to microwave too long!
• Enjoy with bread, crackers, or apples.