My Moms Flan Food

FABULOUS FLAN (WITH VARIATIONS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place cinnamon stick and milk in a small saucepan over very low heat. This step is optional but gives a nice flavor.
• Meanwhile, caramelize sugar: in a small heavy skillet (preferably non-stick) without stirring, heat the sugar over medium heat until it begins to melt. Cook and stir for 4 or 5 minutes or until the sugar turns a rich brown. Be careful not to burn. Remove skillet from heat and immediately pour caramelized sugar into a round 2 quart casserole or other appropriate dish. Holding dish with pot holders, quickly rotate dish so that the sugar coats the bottom and sides evenly. Set aside to cool.
• Beat the eggs in a mixer or with a hand blender. Add condensed milk, evaporated milk, heated cinnamon milk and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into prepared casserole. Take a baking pan large enough to hold the casserole and add about 2 inches of very hot tap water or enough to come about 2/3 up the sides of the prepared pan. Place casserole in water, being careful not to let water into the flan mixture. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out just barely clean � there should still be some bit of custard on it. Carefully remove casserole from water bath. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate.
• To unmold, loosen edges with a knife. Set the casserole dish in a bowl of hot water )being careful not to splash water into the flan) for about 2 minutes in order to loosen up the caramel. Invert into a serving platter with deep enough sides to contain the caramel.
• Notes: For less fat, substitute low fat or fat free condensed milk and/or evaporated milk. This recipe works well in that you can reduce the eggs to 4 and still have a great custard. It needs some fat, so don�t go all fat free and only 4 eggs. The key is a good balance. If you like a richer custard you can use up to 10 eggs.
• If you prefer a firmer flan you can bake it without the water bath for about 35 to 40 minutes at 350°F It will cook quicker but won't be quite as creamy.
• Coconut Flan: Prepare as above adding one can of cream of coconut. Use a 3 quart casserole.
• Pumpkin Flan: Empty one 16 oz can pureed pumpkin into a saucepan. Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cloves (if desired). Cook, stirring frequently until the mixture is hot and slightly glossy, about 5 minutes. Add the pumpkin mixture to the egg custard as above and bake in a 3 quart casserole.
• Chocolate Flan: Add 4 to 6 ounces of good melted chocolate to the custard mixture. The amount of chocolate depends on how chocolaty you want it.

YOLANDA'S FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt the sugar in a non-stick loaf pan over low heat, sliding the pan around constantly until the sugar is liquid but not burned. Alternatively you could melt the sugar in a separate pot and pour into a loaf pan.
• Combine the can of condensed milk, 3/4 of the same can of water, eggs and vanilla extract in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour this mixture over the melted sugar in the loaf pan.
• Prepare a bano de maria (bain marie) by placing the loaf pan into a casserole dish and fill the casserole dish with water around the loaf pan until the water is about half-way up the loaf pan.
• Place casserole dish with water and loaf pan steady in the middle into the oven on the center rack and bake for about 1 hour. Flan is done when you insert a knife into the center and it comes out clean.
• After removing, take the loaf pan out of the hot water and place in refrigerator for 5 hours or overnight until completely cooled. To serve, place a dish over the pan and hold together while flipping upside down. Flan should slide right out once it's cool enough.

MOM'S FRUIT FLAN (GERMAN ERDBEER/OBST BODEN TORTE)

Steps:

• To Make Base (Boden):.
• Thoroughly grease a 10 to 11 inch (25 to 28 cm) boden tin. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar til white and creamy; add egg and beat til mixed in thoroughly.
• Sift together flour and baking powder and fold into the butter mixture, adding milk til it holds together in a ball.
• Press dough into a well greased boden torte pan (wet your hands with a little water to keep the dough from sticking to your hands).
• Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden.
• Remove from oven. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert on a cake plate or other large plate.
• Filling:.
• If desired, spread a thin layer of custard (or vanilla pudding or pastry cream) evenly over the cooled boden.
• Fill with a variety of fruit and whipped cream. Use any variety you like or simply canned peach slices or fresh strawberries.
• Glaze:.
• For a simple glaze, melt a little apple jelly or strawberry jam and pour over the fruit.
• -Or- take 1/2 cup of the fruit syrup. Cook it over high heat with 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in a little cold water, cook it until it is clear, and the raw cornstarch flavor disappears (approximately 2 minutes). Drizzle evenly over the fruit.
• Chill until ready to serve. This cake is best served within 24 hours.
• Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and you have a lovely little dessert. Quick and easy.