BajaNomad - 1st Ana-ual Flan Cook-off

1st Ana-ual Flan Cook-off

BMG - 4-8-2008 at 04:02 PM

A friend of ours recently served us a flan after dinner that was really excellent. We got to talking about really good flan that we have had and Ana (LinguineLinguine) came up with the idea of a flan party. Who am I, with the world's biggest sweet tooth, to argue?

On this Saturday evening, April 12, at 6 pm at Casa Ana in La Paz (our home), we will host the 1st Ana-ual Flan Cook-off. Everyone coming will be required to bring their best flan along with the recipe. (For the culinary challenged, buy a flan and tell everyone it's a secret family recipe.)

This is an open competition and the more people that show up the sweeter it will be. Please let us know who will be able to come via post or u2u.

Life is short. Eat dessert first.

bajabound2005 - 4-8-2008 at 05:40 PM

Darn! That would have been a fun one. Maybe we'll add that to the Golf Tourney and Fiesta next year!

BMG - 4-8-2008 at 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabound2005
Darn! That would have been a fun one. Maybe we'll add that to the Golf Tourney and Fiesta next year!

I'll be sure to let you know how it works out. At the very worst I figure I get at least 1 flan.

Iflyfish - 4-8-2008 at 07:40 PM

I hope you will post the recipes. So many flans......

Iflyfish

bajabound2005 - 4-8-2008 at 08:39 PM

One flan is better than no flan...and if you're Bajaguy that ONE flan better be the choco-flan from Costco!!!

longlegsinlapaz - 4-9-2008 at 08:28 AM

I think you need an unbiased judge....Oh wait!!!

Does Ana put hot stuff in her flan? :fire:

vgabndo - 4-9-2008 at 08:57 AM

Cathy and I have joked for years that our trips to Baja were to search-out the finest flan. We pretty much gave the title to Malarrimo in GN. I finally got to ask the cook her secret, and was blown away by her answer. Facil, she said, J-E-L-L-O.

lingililingili - 4-9-2008 at 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
I think you need an unbiased judge....Oh wait!!!

Does Ana put hot stuff in her flan? :fire:

NO hot stuff! I promise! Hmmmmm.... wait, there is that jalapeno jelly flan I've been wanting to try!

vandenberg - 4-9-2008 at 11:49 AM

Lingilidoble,
Cooking flan on a hot stove makes it plenty hot for most folks.

Iflyfish - 4-9-2008 at 12:06 PM

Seriously folks, I mean seriously, this is a very serious topic. Jello in Flan? What flavor......really? That sounds like a possibility.

I just this morning read a recipe for tapioca pudding with crystalized ginger and dried coconut in it. Wonder if that would work with flan?

I personaly like the old style one with a thick carmel flowing over it, then lick the plate!

Favorite Recipes?

Iflyfish

lingililingili - 4-9-2008 at 12:14 PM

Iflyfish: You be silly! Jello makes a boxed flan!

longlegsinlapaz - 4-9-2008 at 12:20 PM

No, no, Iflyfish, Jello makes a flan mix, like flavored Jello, but it's a powdered base mix that you add the fresh ingredients to & cook! Not adding a flavored Jello gelatin to flan! That'd be sacrilege!

Cardon - 4-9-2008 at 01:08 PM

About 25 years ago in Cabo San Lucas we ordered some Flan in a little restaurant and it was great. We ordered a second order/helping and the waiter to go to some ladies house to get more. We inhaled that and ordered more- he went back to her house and got more. During that week we went to the restaurant several times just so we could have that flan dessert. I've never since found any that was so good.
Yea, post the winning recipes when you get them.

BMG - 4-9-2008 at 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
I think you need an unbiased judge....Oh wait!!!

Does Ana put hot stuff in her flan? :fire:

Looks like you disqualified yourself as that "unbiased judge". :lol:

Since I cannot recall the last time I was wrong on anything, I will assume the responsibility and duty of being the final judge. As such, I may be required to help myself to 'larger than normal' portions of flan in order to fairly determine the best one. It is highly likely that the winner will not be chosen on Saturday and the judge (me) will require further tasting on Sunday.

The judge (me), may also require an additional sample, or samples, of the winning flan at a later date. Can't be too careful.

[Edited on 4-9-2008 by BMG]

longlegsinlapaz - 4-9-2008 at 01:27 PM

Okay, make you a deal....you can be the unbiased judge for all the 5-alarm flans & I'll be the pansy-burro judge for the 0-alarm entries! I left all the fat-free CoffeeMate at CCC for you!

Because I figure you'll be watching your girlish figure leading up the the flan competition! Hey! That's what friends are for! And you have a short memory....I can recall a time or two when you were wrong, but we can discuss that in private! Heaven forbid I embarrass you publicly! :saint:

BMG - 4-9-2008 at 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hose A
http://flan.holidaycook.com/

Cheating will be allowed.

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
I can recall a time or two when you were wrong

You must be thinking of someone else. Probably caused by too many tortillas.

So tell me who is bringing a flan. I need to adjust my breakfast and lunch accordingly.

lingililingili - 4-9-2008 at 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hose A
http://flan.holidaycook.com/

After visiting this site, I think I shall make two flans! Dibbs on the coffee flan!

lingililingili - 4-9-2008 at 05:04 PM

Very creative, Linglidoble, I like that!

There are flans you don't have to cook, but have never made or tried one. I bet they are just as tasty!

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
Lingilidoble,
Cooking flan on a hot stove makes it plenty hot for most folks.

Iflyfish - 4-9-2008 at 09:30 PM

Great link Hose. These will get some sampling at our casa!

Thanks,

Iflyfish

BMG - 4-11-2008 at 09:47 AM

Looks like 7 Flans so far. Quite a few more maybes. The more the merrier!

1st Place Winner announced

BMG - 4-13-2008 at 09:13 AM

Wow, some terrific flans last night. 7 in all and I was obligated to try each one in order to determine a winner. Some I felt it my duty to try twice.

'Traditional' flans, espresso coffee flan, a 'chunky' custard type flan, and a 'family secret' flan that tasted almost exactly like the flan at Tres Virgenes.

It was a hard decision to judge the best flan, but the 1st Place prize goes to LinguineLinguine for her delicious flan.

Just in case any of you think the fix was in on this competition, you're right. The judge was compromised. The only solution I can see is to hold another competition next year.

[Edited on 4-13-2008 by BMG]

lingililingili - 4-13-2008 at 10:22 AM

All the flan was very good, but the sweetest thing there had to be Baja Bernie! What a treat to meet you Bernie, thank you for coming! No offense to you others, I tend to be partial to big, tall huggy kinda guys!

BMG - 4-13-2008 at 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG
a 'family secret' flan that tasted almost exactly like the flan at Tres Virgenes.

Guilty.

Many thanks to my extended family at the neighborhood's finest restaurant. It was a big hit, even though the contest was rigged!
I enjoyed meeting everyone (and seeing some again), but it was a special treat to meet Baja Bernie. Hope you'll return, amigo!

Kate

Kate,

Don't feel guilty. No need to share the 'family' secret, but if anyone wants to try Kate's signature flan, just order it after a wonderful dinner at Tres Virgenes. They taste almost exactly the same!

Speaking of places to try a great flan, be sure a and order the flan at Buffalo BBQ too. Almost as good as LinguineLinguines.

I am right now sampling them again. Aging them a day hasn't hurt any of the flans one bit. Yummy! :biggrin:

Sure glad Ling likes "big, tall huggy kinda guys" cause I might not get any taller, but the bigger part is likely.

Iflyfish - 4-13-2008 at 09:50 PM

what great fun!!! Love the pics, the chili rellenos look great too!

And the winning recipe is?????

Iflyfish

BMG - 4-14-2008 at 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish
what great fun!!! Love the pics, the chili rellenos look great too!

And the winning recipe is?????

Iflyfish

So many flans, so little time! Below is the recipe for one of the flans served. Like I said, the fix was in on this contest, but this is a very, very good flan.

Flan

3/4 cup sugar
4 eggs separated
1 can condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

Melt sugar in sauce pan about 5 min or til caramel color appears. Careful, do not scorch.

Pour into flan baking pan (we use glass) coating sides. It will almost immediately harden.

In bowl, stir egg yolks. Add all milks and vanilla. Mix well.

In another bowl, whip egg whites until fluffy, not stiff.

Fold egg whites into flan mixture.

Pour mixture over caramel sauce.

Place flan baking pan in roasting pan and add enough water to roasting pan to come 1/2 way up outside of flan baking pan.

Bake 1 hour @ 350 degrees F. Knife should come out clean when inserted in flan.

Cool and then chill well in refrigerator. (Can be served warm if you prefer.)

Use a knife to separate flan along rim of pan. Place a serving plate over pan and flip. Flan should drop onto serving plate in 1 piece.

Invite Steve over.

Iflyfish - 4-14-2008 at 08:38 AM

Oh, man! Great recipe! Thanks,

Iflyfish