Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie Hardback - 2005

Excerpt

FOUR-MILK FLAN

Serves 12

•1 1/2 (1.5) cups sugar
•1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
•2 12-ounce cans evaporated milk
•1 cup regular milk
•1/2 (.5) cup half-and-half
•4 large eggs
•1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Heat a large light-colored skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, reduce the heat to low and add the sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is melted and amber-colored, about 10 minutes. Immediately and carefully pour this syrup into a shallow 2-quart baking dish and set aside to cool.

Place the remaining ingredients in the bowl of a mixer. Beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. Pour this mixture over the cooled syrup. Place the baking dish in a larger pan, set it in the center of the oven, and pour water into the larger pan to come about halfway up the sides of the baking dish holding the flan. Bake until the top is golden brown and the custard is somewhat set, 45 to 60 minutes. (The flan will jiggle when first out of the oven but get firmer after refrigeration.) Remove from the oven and cool completely. Refrigerate the flan until firm or overnight. Unmold onto a serving platter and scrape any remaining syrup from the pan onto the flan. Slice to serve.

Media reviews

"… after years of research, culinary historian Kathleen Curtin … sets the record straight about what was really eaten on the shores of Plymouth, Mass., in 1621. This engrossing new cookbook traces the history and evolution of Thanksgiving across four centuries and includes more than 80 recipes, each of which tells a story." —Christian Science Monitor

"… a charming and informative book …" —Newsday

"Giving Thanks …is a treasure trove of holiday lore, images and recipes that will be cherished year after year when Thanksgiving rolls around … this book by Plimoth Plantation food historian Kathleen Curtin and Food History News publisher Sandra L. Oliver is not only the definitive Thanksgiving cookbook, it is a detailed and fascinating account of the origins and meaning of the quintessential American holiday."—About.com