Pumpkin Flan

Saw this on TV last week.  It sounded so good and perfect for this time of year.  My ingredients are slightly different, mostly because I didn't use fat free milks.

While I have never made Flan before and my attempts at custard on the stove leave little to be desired, this is baked, so I decided to give it a try.  I'm pleased with the outcome :-)



 

Pumpkin Flan

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 can evaporated milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 can pure pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

Caramelize*sugar in medium sauce pan and pour into Flan pan, I used a glass deep dish pie pan. Place pan inside a larger pan and fill that pan with water to about 1/4 inch. 

Mix the rest of the ingredients in a blender.  Pour over caramelized sugar and bake at 325 for 1 hour.

Cool completely. Loosen flan from sides of pan, place a plate on top and flip over, flan will easily fall on plate.  Cut into slices and enjoy! 

*I heated 1 cup sugar over medium heat until sugar was melted and a nice copper color, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon... About 4 minutes.

Oxtail Stew

2 1/2 lbs Oxtails
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3-4 carrots, sliced
3-4 parsnips, sliced
2 potatoes sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
4 cloves, chopped
3 sprigs of thyme
1 bay leaf
1 bottle of red wine, I use Cabernet
2 cups beef broth


Salt and pepper oxtails, brown in olive oil on all sides, remove from pan and set aside
Saute onions until golden brown, add garlic, carrots, parsnips, potatoes and celery, cook for a few more minutes.
Add beef broth, simmer for a few minutes, pour in all of the wine ( I keep a small glass for myself, shhhh) add oxtails, thyme and bay leaf.
Simmer for 2-2 1/2 hrs.

Serve over brown rice.

Yum!

Chicken and Dumplings

I had left over canned biscuits from Christmas, so thought I would use them in place of homemade.... works pretty good!

1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 cup peas
1/2 tsp. thyme leaves
1/4 tsp tumeric
1/8 tsp pepper
3 Tbls. olive oil
8 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup half and half
1 rotisserie chicken, removed from bones and cut up
1 pkg canned refrigerated biscuits

Saute onion in olive oil just until soft, add carrots, celery, peas, thyme and turmeric, continue to saute for a few minutes, add chicken broth. Simmer for 20 minutes, add chicken, continue simmering for 5-10 minutes. Pour in half and half. Cut biscuits into 1/4's, drop into simmering chicken, loosely cover and simmer for 15-20 min.

Ladle up and enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

1 rotisserie chicken
1 onion, chopped
2 cups Jack cheese, shredded
10 fajita size flour tortillas
1/4 butter
1/4 flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp cumin
1 small can chopped green chilies
1 cup sour cream


Preheat oven to 350.

Pull chicken off bones, and shred with two forks or cut up with kitchen scissors, then set aside.
Saute onion until soft, add to chicken and toss with 1 cup Jack cheese.

Evenly divide chicken mixture on tortillas,  roll up, lay seam side down in a 13x9 pan .

Make a roux -Melt butter in a saucepan, add flour cook for 2-3 minutes constantly stirring.
Slowly whisk in chicken broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat, add cumin and green chilies, then simmer for a few minutes.  Remove from heat; stir in sour cream.  Pour sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle remaining cheese over all.

*Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, then place under broiler for just 3 minutes.

Serve with Spanish rice, guacamole etc...

Yum!

*at this point you can cover with foil and freeze if you wish, or refrigerate for a few hours until ready to bake later in the day.