Cream Cheese Flan (Published Using Zoho Writer)

Mary Paige’s Cream Cheese Flan

(Flan de Queso Crema)

Oven temperature: 350° F

Cook time: 50 min. – 1 hour

Caramelo

2/3 c. sugar

1/3 c. water

Have ready an 8” x 8” glass or metal baking pan. Using a wooden spoon, mix sugar and water in small sauce- or sauté pan. Continue to stir over high heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat slightly to maintain a bubbling boil. Allow mixture to cook, stirring occasionally, until it turns a golden amber color. REMOVE FROM HEAT IMMEDIATELY or the sugar mixture will scorch. Pour quickly into baking pan, then tilt the pan in all directions, allowing the syrup to cover the entire bottom of the pan. Set aside to cool.

Custard

1 4-oz. package cream cheese, at room temperature

5 large eggs, at room temperature

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1 c. milk or half and half

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Reduce mixer speed to low as soon as possible (after the first or second egg). After all eggs have been incorporated, beat in sweetened condensed milk. Finally, stir in milk or half and half with wooden spoon or spatula. When mixture is smooth, pour it through a strainer into the cooled baking pan covered with caramelo.

Place baking pan in a larger pan, and fill the larger pan with approx. 2” of hot water (baño Maria). To prevent the hot water from spilling, wait until you’ve placed the pans in the oven to fill the larger pan with water. Bake until flan is set but still wobbly (it will continue to cook as it cools). Remove flan from pan of water, and cool thoroughly on wire rack.

When pan is cool to the touch, run knife or metal spatula around the edge of the flan to loosen. Place a serving tray or plate over top of the baking pan, and invert. Lift pan off of plate. If any caramel sauce remains on the bottom of the pan, pour it over the flan, using a spoon or spatula. Serve on small plates or bowls, with some of the caramel sauce spooned over each serving. Very good with strawberries, too!

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I put this recipe into my blog using Zoho Writer, posted as a draft. I wanted to put this paragraph before the recipe, but I couldn't figure out how to insert anything before the title of the recipe. I was able to insert lines, but I couldn't format the text in any way.

This little problem aside, I really like the Zoho suite. It seems to have all the commonly-used features of MS Office, plus all the advantages of web-based tools. It's another way to collaborate with others on documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, or just to work on your own from wherever you are. You don't have to lug your laptop around, or send versions of files from you work computer to your home computer. You can even digitally sign your documents via a link with EchoSign. Brilliant!