Green Nature

Flan - Peruvian Dessert

Flan is a baked egg custard similar to crème caramel. It is made with eggs, cream or milk, gelatin and vanilla. Flan is synonymous with crème caramel because it includes a layer of burnt or caramelized sugar on the bottom. There is also crunchy sugar on top. Flan is a popular dessert in Latin American countries made in a mold, but its origin is French, which are made in pie dishes. Latin American restaurants make the distinction between regular flan and dulce de leche, flan served with a milk caramel sauce. This recipe was made by my Peruvian grandmother.

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup sugar
4 eggs
1 Cup fat-free milk
1 Cup evaporated fat-free milk or fat-free milk
1/4 Cup sugar
1 Teaspoon vanilla
Dash salt

Directions:

1. To caramelize sugar, in a small heavy skillet cook 1/4 cup sugar over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking skillet occasionally to heat sugar evenly. Do not stir. Reduce heat to low and cook about 5 minutes more or until all of the sugar is melted and golden.

2. Quickly pour caramelized sugar into an 8x1-1/2-inch round baking pan, tilting pan to coat bottom (use a pot holder if pan becomes too hot).

3. In a mixing bowl beat eggs. Stir in skim milk, evaporated skim milk, 1/4 cup sugar, the vanilla, and salt. Pour into sugar-coated pan.

4. Set the round pan in a large baking pan set on an oven rack. Pour hot water into the large baking pan around the round pan to a depth of 1 inch.

5. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree F oven about 30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center of the custard comes out clean. Carefully remove from pan of water. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover flan and refrigerate 4 to 8 hours or until thoroughly chilled.

6. Loosen flan from side of pan. Carefully invert onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges. If desired, garnish with edible flowers. Makes 8 servings.

Asparagus Frittata

This egg based recipe is Low-carbohydrate and high in protein. To make this recipe lower in fat use four whole eggs and four egg whites. Asparagus is very high in Vitamin K, which makes this a healthy breakfast, or dinner recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 Teaspoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Pound asparagus, stem ends cut off , spears cut diagonally into 1-inch lengths
• 4 Large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 Cup Swiss cheese, shredded

Preparation:

Pour olive oil into a 10-inch ovenproof frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and salt, stir until onion is softened but not browned, 3 minutes. Add asparagus, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, covered until asparagus 6 to 8 minutes. Pour in eggs and cook until almost set , about 2 minutes.

Sprinkle cheese over eggs and broil until cheese is melted and browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Serve.

Tacos Dorados- Mexican Hard Taco Recipe

This is a unique Mexican taco recipe, not your ordinary meat or chicken taco. It's a delicious vegetarian hard taco recipe.
If you prefer a meat hard taco, brown 1Lb. of ground sirloin and substitute it for the potatoes. You can also fill these hard shells with grilled chicken. This recipe was given to me by Yoli Gonzalez.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons margarine
• 6 potatoes
• Lettuce
• Sour cream
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• 10-12 corn tortillas
• Extra light olive oil (optional)
• Salt and Pepper

Salsa:
• 2 Jalapeno peppers, chopped
• 3-4 Tomatoes, diced
• 1 Clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 of an Onion, chopped
• Cilantro, small bunch, chopped

Preparation:

Peel and cut potatoes in small pieces, steam until soft. Wash all the vegetables. Chop the lettuce. Boil the jalapenos and tomatoes. In a bowl mix potatoes and margarine, with salt and pepper to taste. Mash potatoes and cheese

Place the tortillas in a sandwich bag and microwave for 40 seconds to make them soft. Spread the potato mixture in the tortillas and fold. Heat the olive oil in a large pan, fry the tacos turn when they are golden brown. On a cooling rack or large platter place some napkins to soak up the extra oil from the fried tortillas.

With a fork blend jalapenos, tomatoes, salt and pepper, garlic, onion and cilantro. Serve tacos on a plate, garnish with lettuce, sour cream, parmesan cheese, salsa, and avocados.