Miss Carmens Flavorful Flan Food

THE PERFECT FLAN

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Combine cream, milk and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into cream mixture; add bean. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and let steep 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water in another heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and cook without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Quickly pour caramel into six 3/4-cup ramekins or custard cups. Using oven mitts as aid, immediately tilt each ramekin to coat sides. Set ramekins into 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
• Whisk eggs, egg yolks and 7 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl just until blended. Gradually and gently whisk cream mixture into egg mixture without creating lots of foam. Pour custard through small sieve into prepared ramekins, dividing evenly (mixture will fill ramekins). Pour enough hot water into baking pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins.
• Bake until centers of flans are gently set, about 40 minutes. Transfer flans to rack and cool. Chill until cold, about 2 hours. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead.)
• To serve, run small sharp knife around flan to loosen. Turn over onto plate. Shake gently to release flan. Carefully lift off ramekin allowing caramel syrup to run over flan. Repeat with remaining flans and serve.

CARAMEL FLANS FROM EAGLE BRAND®

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook sugar in heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until melted and caramel-colored. Carefully pour into 8 (6 oz.) ungreased custard cups, tilting to coat bottom completely.
• Beat eggs in medium bowl; stir in water, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt. Pour into prepared custard cups; set cups in larger shallow pan. Fill larger pan with 1 inch of hot water.
• Bake 25 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Move cups from larger pan to a wire rack; cool 1 hour. Chill several hours or overnight.
• Serve by loosening side of flan with knife; invert onto individual serving plates with rim. Top with Sugar Garnish, if desired, or garnish as desired.
• Sugar Garnish: Fill medium metal bowl half-full of ice. Combine sugar with water in medium saucepan; stir. Cover; bring to a boil. Cook over high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until light brown in color. Immediately put pan in ice for 1 minute. Carefully drizzle sugar decoratively over foil lined cookie sheet. Cool. To serve, peel from foil.

CARAMEL FLAN

Steps:

• Fill a roasting pan with 2 inches of water. Transfer to oven; preheat to 325 degrees. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside.
• Cook sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly and washing down sides with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming, until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking until sugar turns a deep caramel color. Immediately dip bottom of pan in ice-water bath, then pour caramel into an 8-inch round cake pan.
• Blend condensed milk, milk, and eggs in a blender until smooth. Pour into cake pan. Transfer to roasting pan, placing it in the water. Bake flan until just set and golden brown on top, about 1 hour.
• Transfer flan to a wire rack to cool. Chill 6 hours or preferably overnight.
• Just before serving, run a knife around edge of flan. Set a serving plate over pan; invert. Spoon sauce from pan over flan.

CLASSIC MEXICAN FLAN - CUSTARD WITH CARAMEL TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Melt 1/2 cup sugar in small saucepan over medium heat, swirling pan occasionally, until sugar becomes amber in color, 10 minutes (do not stir).
• Pour caramel into the bottom of a 5-cup souffle dish.
• Bring milk, cream, remaining 3/4 cup sugar and cinnamon stick to boil in small saucepan over medium heat.
• Remove from heat; cover and let stand 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, vanilla and salt in large bowl.
• Strain milk mixture through a sieve into eggs; whisk to combine.
• Discard cinnamon stick.
• Strain mixture again into prepared dish.
• Place dish in a roasting pan, making sure there is at least one inch of space between the edge of the dish and pan.
• Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come halfway up side of dish.
• Bake until custard is just set, 60 to 65 minutes (mixture will jiggle slightly, but that's okay).
• Remove flan from oven.
• Let flan cool in hot-water bath 15 minutes.
• Remove dish from water bath and cool completely on wire rack.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• To serve:.
• Run a knife around edge of baking dish.
• Place a serving plate slightly larger than dish on top.
• Invert flan onto plate. Makes 8 servings. Makes a luxurious finale to your favorite Mexican meal!

CREAMY CARAMEL FLAN

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, cook sugar and water over medium-low heat until melted and golden, about 15 minutes. Brush down crystals on the side of the pan with additional water as necessary. Quickly pour into an ungreased 2-qt. round baking or souffle dish, tilting to coat the bottom; let stand for 10 minutes. , Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until thoroughly combined. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour over caramelized sugar. , Place the dish in a larger baking pan. Pour boiling water into larger pan to a depth of 1 in. Bake until the center is just set (mixture will jiggle), 50-60 minutes. , Remove dish from a larger pan to a wire rack; cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate overnight. , To unmold, run a knife around edges and invert onto a large rimmed serving platter. Cut into wedges or spoon onto dessert plates; spoon sauce over each serving.

CREAMY CARAMEL FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In iron skillet, over medium heat, cook and Stir the sugar until it is melted and caramel color.
• Divide the sugar into 8 ungreased 6-oz custard cups.
• Tilt to coat the bottom of the cups.
• With a wire whisk, beat eggs in large bowl; stir in the water, milk, vanilla and salt.
• Pour the egg mixture into custard cups.
• Place the filled cups in a large shallow pan filled with 1 inch of hot water.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until knife inserted near centers comes out clean.
• Cool and chill at least 2 hours before serving.