Cuban Flan

There are many recipes for Flan. This is my mother's recipe for Cuban Flan that I have always enjoyed.

Flan is an egg custard topped with a caramel sauce that you eat cold. It is light and very tasty.

Ingredients:

For Caramel:

1/2 c. sugar

1 tbs water

For Flan:

6 eggs

1 c. sugar

1 12 oz. can evaporated milk

1/2 cup 2 % milk

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon zest

2 cinnamon sticks

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Start off by making caramel. Place the sugar and water in a small sauce pan on medium high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring as the sugar and water melt down. When the sugar water mixture turns a golden brown, remove from heat and pour into a loaf pan. With oven mit (pan will get very hot after you pour caramel in), move pan around until sides are coated about halfway up. Set aside for the caramel to cool.

Meanwhile, place all the ingredients in a food processor and mix until well blended. If you don't have a food processor, you can certainly mix in a bowl with a wisk or an electric hand mixer..

Place loaf pan in a cake pan filled halfway with water. This is called a Bain Marie. Pour egg mixture in pan. Place the 2 cinnamon sticks sideways in the pan. Press down lightly.

Put in preheated oven and bake for 1 hour.

When Flan is done, the top will have turned a light golden color. Remove from oven. Remove loaf pan from Bain Marie. Let it cool slightly and place in refrigerator for about an hour or overnight to get cold.

When it is totally COLD, run a knife or spatula around the edges to loosen up. Wiggle pan, side to side to again, make sure it has loosened up from all sides. Place serving platter on top of loaf pan and very carefully with one hand on the pan and the other on the serving platter, flip over to the serving platter. With a spoon, scrape the caramel that is left behind on the pan.

To serve, slice across to the size you would like. I usually make those slices about 2 to 3 inches. As you are slicing, you will come up with the cinnamon sticks. Pull them out and discard.

Enjoy and please let me know what you think!!