Festive Latin Inspired Valentine Lunch

Calico Corn Muffins

2 Cups yellow cornmeal

1 1/2 unbleached white flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 finely chopped red onion

1/3 finely chopped green bell pepper

1 Can cream style corn

1 Cup sour cream

3 eggs

2 cups of shredded cheese (I used colby-jack)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix everything together in a large mixing bowl. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full of batter. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden-brown on top.




Flan


Caramelized Sugar:

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tablespoon Water

Place sugar and water in a small pan. Cook over medium heat. Stir constantly, until sugar is golden. Pour into 6 ovenproof custard cups.



Custard

6 Tablespoons Sugar

6 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 strip orange peel 1 cinnamon stick

2 Cups milk

pinch of salt


Boil the milk with orange peel and cinnamon stick. Lightly beat the eggs with a whisk. Add the sugar, vanilla, and salt to the eggs. Add milk very gradually. Strain the mixture as you pour it into the ovenproof custard cups, on top of the caramelized sugar. Place the cups in a pan of hot water about 2 inches deep. Bake in oven for 1 hour at 300 degrees F.
Remove the cups from the water and let cool in a refrigerator. To serve, unmold by going around the edge of the custard with a knife and the turning it upside down. Drizzle the caramelized sugar from the bottom of the cups over the top of each custard.