Mean Chefs Espresso Flan Food

VANILLA CARAMEL FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Make caramel by combining sugar and water in a medium saucepan and cooking over moderate heat swirling occasionally until color begins to turn golden, about 12 to 15 minutes. Turn heat to low and continue cooking and swirling constantly until color is dark brown and mixture smells of caramel. Remove from heat and pour into a 9-inch round cake pan. Using a towel or hot pad, tilt pan and swirl caramel to coat the bottom and sides well. It will need a few minutes to cool down in order for about 1/4-inch of caramel to stick to the pan. Then pour excess back into the pot it was cooked in and add 2 cups milk. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, to dissolve excess caramel into milk, about 3 to 5 minutes. Strain warm milk and caramel mixture in a bowl and add cold half and half. Mix well. Add sugar, eggs, yolks and vanilla. Whisk custard to mix and strain into caramelized pan. Set flan into a roasting pan in the oven and pour boiling water into roasting pan until it rises halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until center feels just firm when pressed gently with the fingertips. Set aside to cool for about 1 1/2 hours then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 4 days.
• To serve, run a knife along the inside edge to loosen. Cover with a platter and quickly invert. Carefully drain excess caramel into a small sauce pitcher and reserve. Serve wedges of flan on dessert plates topped with extra caramel sauce.

COFFEE FLAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Set a 7-inch cake (or pie) pan with 2-inch high sides inside of a larger baking pan or casserole dish (such as a 13 x 9-inch dish).
• In a small sauce pan, add instant coffee and water and heat until dissolved over medium heat. Add granulated sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, swirling pan several times until sugar is completely dissolved. Cook for about 5 minutes until mixture is golden brown. Careful not to scorch caramel.
• Carefully pour coffee caramel sauce into 7-inch pan. Set aside and allow to cool and harden.
• In a medium sized mixing bowl, add instant coffee and warm water, whisking until coffee has dissolved. Add eggs one at a time whisking thoroughly between each addition. Continue with egg yolks.
• Once all eggs and yolks have been incorporated, add granulated sugar and combine. Add sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla extract whisking gently until combined. Careful to not mix too vigorously to prevent too many bubbles.
• Carefully pour flan mixture into prepared pan. Cover baking pan tightly with aluminum foil. Make a water bath by pouring water into larger roasting pan - outside of cake pan - until water reaches half way up outside of cake pan holding flan.
• Place on middle rack and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until set around edges with a slight jiggle in middle.
• Once flan is done baking, carefully remove from oven. Carefully remove flan from water bath and set aside. Remove aluminum foil or topper from pan and allow flan to come to room temperature.
• When flan is at room temp, replace aluminum foil or top and place into refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
• When ready to serve, remove flan from fridge, run a butter knife along sides of pan to help release any portion of flan that may have become stuck during baking. Place a large enough plate (preferably with sides) over flan pan and quickly flip over. (Note: If flan has sat in fridge overnight, please remove about 30 minutes before ready to serve)
• Once flan has been flipped, gently attempt to lift pan up. If you notice flan has not yet released, gently push down on bottom of pan and gently push sides. This should help release flan onto dish.
• Slice and serve immediately, spooning extra Coffee Caramel Sauce on top. Enjoy!

FLAN

Steps:

• To make the caramel:
• Have ready 8 individual 5-ounce ramekins. In a thick sided heavy duty pot, combine the sugar, corn syrup, 1/2 cup of the water, and lemon juice. Cook over high heat until a medium brown caramel forms. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of water. Pour about 1 tablespoon of caramel into each ramekin.
• To make the flan:
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream together the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar in bowl. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the half-and-half and vanilla bean to a scald. Gradually whisk the half-and-half mixture into the eggs, a little at a time at first and whisking constantly, to temper the egg mixture.
• Fill each ramekin almost to the top with the egg mixture. Set the ramekins in a deep baking dish and fill the dish with hot water that reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until the flan is set (jiggly but not firm), about 90 minutes. Let cool and refrigerate.
• To serve, use a paring knife to cut around the outside of the ramekin and then invert the mold over each serving plate. It may be necessary to shake the flan or gently push it back on one side in order to get the flan to break loose from the ramekin. Serve with the liquid caramel that pours out as a sauce.
• This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO FLAN

Steps:

• Prepare the caramel and coat a 9-inch round cake pan, reserving the extra sauce in the refrigerator as directed above. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a heatproof mixing bowl over simmering water or on top a double boiler. Add condensed milk, chocolate and heavy cream. Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat. In a large mixing bowl combine the remaining ingredients. Beat until well blended. Pour in the melted chocolate mixture. Stir to combine. Pass through a fine strainer into the caramel-coated cake pan. Place pan in a water bath and bake for 1 hour, until the center just feels firm when pressed. Remove from the hot tap water and let cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Serve with reserved caramel sauce.

LECHE FLAN

Steps:

• Add about 2 tablespoons of the sugar to a small saucepan over low heat. Allow the sugar to melt, about 15 minutes. Gradually add a tablespoon of sugar at a time, slowly swirling it and allowing it to melt in before adding the next tablespoon. This is a long process, which needs constant attention to avoid burning. When all the sugar is completely melted, it will become a rich, dark caramel color, about 40 to 45 minutes.
• Carefully pour the caramel into a 9-inch cake pan, coating the bottom of the pan. Allow to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare a water bath: Place a large roasting pan on the middle rack of the oven. Bring about 2 quarts of water to a boil, then carefully pour it into the roasting pan in the oven.
• When the caramel is cool, slowly whisk together the egg yolks in a medium bowl, then add the evaporated milk, condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon zest (if using). Whisk gently to avoid adding air into the custard. Air will cause bubbles, taking away from the smooth and dense texture.
• Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into the cake pan. Lightly tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Once the oven is at 350 degrees F, carefully place the cake pan in the water bath.
• Bake until the center of the custard is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove the cake pan from the water and allow the custard to cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least 5 hours and up to 5 days.
• To serve, unmold the flan: Allow the flan to come to room temperature (see Cook's Note). Take a sharp paring knife and run it between the edge of the flan and the cake pan. Hold a large plate firmly over the pan and, in one smooth motion, invert the plate and pan. Carefully remove the pan.

MEAN CHEF'S SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN AND GRAVY

Steps:

• FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine 3 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt in a large bowl; add chicken pieces.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours.
• Or cover chicken pieces with buttermilk and refrigerate for 8 hours - if you want to be adventurous, add a 1 or 2 cups of hot sauce to the buttermilk when you marinate.
• Drain chicken; rinse with cold water, and pat dry.
• Combine 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper; sprinkle half of mixture over all sides of chicken - for the adventurous you can add 1 stp or more of cayenne or cajun spice to the flour mixture .
• Combine remaining mixture and flour in a gallon-size, heavy-duty, zip-top plastic bag.
• Place 2 pieces of chicken in bag; seal.
• Shake to coat completely.
• Remove chicken, and repeat procedure with remaining pieces.
• Combine vegetable oil and bacon drippings in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or chicken fryer; heat to 360ºF.
• Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, skin side down.
• Cover and cook 6 minutes; uncover and cook 9 minutes.
• Turn chicken pieces; cover and cook 6 minutes.
• Uncover and cook 5 to 9 minutes, turning pieces during the last 3 minutes for even browning, if necessary.
• Drain chicken on a paper towel-lined plate placed over a large bowl of hot water.
• FOR THE GRAVY: Pour off pan drippings, reserving 1/4 cup drippings in skillet.
• Place skillet over medium heat.
• Add flour to drippings, stirring constantly, until browned.
• Add milk gradually; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly (about 3 to 5 minutes).
• Stir in salt and pepper.
• Serve immediately.
• Yield: 1 2/3 cups.
• Note: If you are using the buttermilk marinade, you can flour the chicken first, dip in the marinade and flour again.

MEAN CHEF'S BLACKBERRY COBBLER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• 13x9 baking dish.
• Mix together sugar, flour, salt.
• Add to berries and mix well,sprinkle on lemon juice.
• Pour into baking dish and dot with butter.
• Bake until hot and bubbly.
• make topping just before you are ready to put it on: Mix together dry ingredients and cut in butter until resembles coarse meal (can be done in food processor).
• Whisk egg into milk.
• Stir in milk and egg until just blended.
• Spoon topping on in dollops.
• Return to oven until biscuits are done.

MEAN CHEF'S MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the mushrooms and sauté until brown, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the flour; it will become very pasty.
• Cook this roux for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• It will stick to the bottom of the pan a little bit; that's okay.
• 2.
• Stir in the stock, wine, soy sauce, and pepper, and bring to a boil.
• Cook the sauce at a lively simmer for 5 minutes, stirring almost constantly and scraping any crusty bits that adhere to the bottom of the pan.
• Serve in a sauceboat.

WICKED SHRIMP BY MEAN CHEF

Steps:

• Coat prawns in flour.
• Heat clarified butter or vegetable oil on high heat.
• Add prawns to saute pan.
• Coat with steak seasoning (your favorite store brand like Lawry's or Johnny's will work fine).
• Add garlic to pan.
• To make the spice mixture, mix cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, thyme, rosemary and oregano.
• Grind them together in a spice grinder or food processor.
• Top prawns with the spice mixture.
• Add white wine, beer and Worcestershire sauce to pan.
• Simmer 2-3 minutes until prawns are cooked.
• Swirl in butter to finish the sauce.
• Serve with a thick rustic bread.
• Serves 2.

MEAN CHEF'SFLAN DE ALMENDRAS (ALMOND FLAN),

Steps:

• Use a 9 inch round baking pan.
• caramelize the sugar and water on low heat in a stainless steel saucepan.
• When the sugar turns golden, remove from heat and coat the baking pan bottom with the caramel.
• In a blender, mix the rest of the ingredients except the orange until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the caramelized baking pan and place in a larger pan containing 1 inch of water.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about one hour until top is set and golden.
• Remove pan from the water and allow to cool.
• Place a serving plate over pan and flip over.
• Remove the pan.
• Chill at least an hour before serving.
• Serve with the orange slices as a garnish.

MEAN CHEF'S BUTTERMILK SCONES

Steps:

• Put dry ingredients in food processor, pulse to mix.
• Add butter, pulse until butter is in pieces about the size of a hazelnut.
• Dump into bowl.
• Pour in buttermilk and mix with a fork until a shaggy mass forms.
• Form into a disk about 1 1/2 inches high, cut disk in half and in half again.
• Cut each of the 4 pieces either into thirds to get 12 or in half again to get 8.
• Place on parchment lined sheet pan and freeze for 20 minutes Remove from freezer, brush tops with egg yolk/cream mixture sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake for about 12 minutes at 400.

MEAN CHEF'S ESPRESSO FLAN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together egg and egg yolks.
• While whisking add the sugar slowly until fully dissolved.
• Add vanilla, heavy cream, milk, and salt and continue to whisk.
• In order to get rid of air bubbles in mixture, transfer to large bowl through a fine strainer.
• In the bottom of 6 (1/2 cup) ramekins (small ceramic custard cups), place about 1 1/2 teaspoons of caramel.
• When all 6 ramekins have caramel at the bottom, brush each bottom and side with melted butter to secure flan and yet allow it to be removed easily.
• Fill each ramekin with the flan mixture, SLOWLY to avoid air bubbles, until about 2/3 full.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place almost full ramekins in shallow baking pan and then fill the pan with boiling water.
• The hot water bath will allow the flan cups to cook evenly in the oven.
• Right before placing pan in oven, top each ramekin with a tablespoon of hot espresso.
• Bake for 40 minutes.
• When removing pan from oven, allow the ramekins to remain cooling in their original water bath.
• Ramekins can be covered and refrigerated overnight if necessary.
• Before serving, place ramekins in another shallow pan of warm water to loosen the custard.
• Run a thin knife around the inside edge of cup to further loosen, place a plate on top of ramekin and flip onto plate to serve.
• For the Caramel: In preheated saucepan over medium heat, pour in water and bring to boil.
• Add sugar and stir until caramel brown (about 4 minutes).
• Remove from heat and allow to cool for about 2 to 3 minutes.