Curry Pumpkin Soup

Curried Pumpkin Peanut Soup
found this recipe this fall when we had small pie pumpkins and apple to use up.  Great for fall.
serve 4 220 calories and 12 gm protein and 6 g fiber, 9 gm fat, less with fat free cream.

1 1/2 cups chopped peeled apples
1 cup onion
1/4 c sherry or apple juice
1 1/2 T curry powder
1 can pumpkin, pure or  cooked fresh pumpkin
1 can 14 oz chicken broth, I  use homemade
3/4 c evaporated milk , skimmed- I use fat free half and half
1/4 c peanut butter, creamy
3/4 t salt

In a large stockpot, combine apple , onion, sherry over med high heat
stir occasionally, cook about 8 minutes until onion is soft and liquid absorbed
add curry and stir for 30 sec
stir in pumpkin, broth and peanut butter, cover pan, bring to a boil then
reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stir in milk or cream
and allow to cool then pour into blender until smooth.  Warm on stove before serving, so not boil
Garnish with pumpkin seeds made from fresh pumpkin...

Flan

Quesillo ( Flan)
This recipe was from our maid in Venezuela who taught me how to make this when we lived there.
Preheat oven to 350



 Need a metal pan, 8" round cake pan or bread pan , coated with caramelized sugar
 To caramelize sugar:
in a heavy sauce pan heat 1 cup sugar on high  and start stirring in small circles as starts to melt, will clump up but keep stirring till all melted,  turn down or off so doesn't burn once starts to turn dark.
As soon as completely dissolved pour immediately into pan and turn all around till  the bottom and sides are coated 1/2 way up.  Hint: Use a hot pan, the pan will get hot and carmel will harden quickly
While cooling make the custard:

In the blender blend together
6 small eggs or 4 large
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can full of  whole milk or 1 can evaporated milk ( really rich)
(when I  double it/make 2, 1 use can evap and 1 can full of milk)
1 teas vanilla

Pour custard into caramelized tin

Bake at 350 in water bath for 1 hour or till browning on top and set
 ( water bath : I use a cake pan with 1 inch of water and place in the middle)

Remove from bath and let cool  about an hour and when pulls away from sides dump upside down on a plate with a lip, I take a knife around pan and back sure it is loose
Chill before serving