Valentine Berry Flan Food

FRESH FRUIT FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10-by-15 inch jelly roll pan.
• For the crust, sift together the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together white and confectioners' sugars, butter, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients. Blend well. Spread the dough evenly on the bottom of the greased pan. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
• For the filling, cream together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Spread over the cooled crust. Arrange the fruit on the cream cheese filling and refrigerate.
• For the glaze, mix together the sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Whisk in the water, orange juice, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil gently for one minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
• Spoon or brush the glaze evenly over the fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

VANILLA FLAN WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a saucepan over low heat combine 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and boil without stirring until sugar caramelizes, swirling pan occasionally. Immediately pour into 2 (9-inch) pie dishes. Turn dishes, so bottom and sides are coated. Set aside.
• In a large bowl whisk together eggs, egg yolks and vanilla.
• Stir in whipping cream, milk and 1 1/2 cups sugar.
• Divide mixture among pie dishes.
• Place pie pans in a heavy baking pan, adding enough hot water to come up halfway up sides of pie dishes.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes clean. Remove custards from water and cool. Refrigerate overnight (*can be prepared up to 2 days ahead.).
• Invert custards on platters; sprinkle with raspberries to serve.

VALENTINE BERRY FLAN

Steps:

• CRUST: Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Combine flour and icing sugar. Cream butter and gradually blend in flour mixture. Work with hands to form a smooth dough. Press evenly on bottom and sides of a 9-inch fluted pan with removeable bottom. Prick with a fork and chill 15 minutes.
• Bake for 7-10 minutes or until light golden. Cool thoroughly in pan on rack.
• FILLING:.
• Beat cream cheese, icing sugar and vanillla together until smooth. Whip cream until stiff peaks form and fold into cheese mixture. Spread evenly in a baked crust and cover attractively with fruit, making a heart shape.
• GLAZE:
• In a small saucepan on medium, heat jam and lemon juice to boiling. Remove from heat. Cool slightly. Pour evenly over flan.
• Let cool completely.
• NOTE: Freezing is not recommended. Serve flan immediately at room temperature for a maximum flavor.
• Great throught the year! Try different fruits to match the season - fresh or canned; grapes, apricots, blueberries, mandarins, kiwi, pineapple, blackberries, etc.

VALENTINE'S DAY STRAWBERRY MUFFINS

Steps:

• Mix lemon juice with as much milk as needed to measure 1 cup; let the soured milk stand for 5 minutes before using.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Line 24 muffin tins with paper liners.
• Cream together the butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a large bowl.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time; add the lemon extract.
• Gradually stir in the lemon zest and soured milk.
• Gently fold in the chopped strawberries.
• Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in another bowl.
• Stir the butter mixture into the flour mixture until dry ingredients are just moistened.
• Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups to about 2/3 full.
• Place a strawberry slice atop each muffin and sprinkle with some of the 1 tablespoon white sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before serving warm.