My cheesy 'Ohana-like luau plans

[sweet maxine]

My husband would really enjoy a treat like that!

 

[Ozymoe]

Okay. This is an easy recipe that sounds maybe just a little involved. Trust me, do it once and you'll be amazed at how simple it is...and yet it looks as if you spent lots of time on it. The best part is that it's a make-ahead dessert that only gets better if you make it and let it sit in the refrigerator for one, two or even three days.

The main things you need for success are ceramic bowls or cups (I've used glass custard cups too, but I always get that smoooooth, velvety texture with ceramic cups...the glass ones sometimes get a little "bubble-y" If you're a true flan aficionado you'll know what I mean lol...). You also need a pan 2-3 inches deep and large enough to hold the cups...can be metal, glass or Corningware. I have used various broiler pans when I've made this at different condos. Necessity is the mother of invention!

First put water on to boil for water bath (a large teakettleful or a large potful) and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the water is heating, make the caramel sauce and flan.

CARAMEL FLAN


3/4 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 3/4 cups water

14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk!)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt


Bake time: approximately 25 minutes.

In heavy skillet over medium heat, cook and stir sugar until melted and caramel-colored. Carefully pour into 8 ungreased 6-ounce custard cups, tilting to coat bottoms.

In large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Stir in water, condensed milk, vanilla and salt. Pour into prepared custard cups. Set cups in large shallow pan. Place the pan in the center of the oven, middle rack or maybe one notch lower. Pull the oven rack out far enough to be able to pour in the hot water easily. Fill pan with 1 to 1 1/2 inches hot water so that the flan cups are all sitting in a nice hot water bath. Carefully slide the rack all the way in the oven. Wipe your brow and say "whew".

Bake 25 minutes or until knife inserted near centers comes out clean. (the flan will still seem jiggley) Take the flans out of the bath and cool on the counter for a half an hour or so. Then chill them in the refrigerator. (I cover the flans with plastic wrap after they are chilled so that there is no condensation on the plastic wrap) Forget about them until serving time...which hopefully is at least a day later.

To serve, invert flans onto individual serving plates. (I use a small, thin plastic spatula to unmold the flans, running it around the cup..use what works best for you, some people use a knife but I find the spatula has just enough flex in it to loosen a little of the curved edge down at the bottom. Then I put the dessert plate (or saucer, use what you have lol) on top of the cup and flip it. Voila! Use the same little spatula to scrape any sugar syrup left in the cup over the flan. (the longer ahead you make the flans the more syrupy the caramel sauce and the more caramel color the flan picks up.)

Makes 8 servings.

I hope you like these as much as we do!

 

[Ozymoe]

If anyone has any questions about this recipe don't hesitate to ask...I tried to make it clear, but if you haven't ever made flan before you might have a question or two about procedure. God knows I asked my mom and aunts enough questions over the years!

 

[sweet maxine]

Well, we're all hungry now for sure!! I just hope that I can hold everybody off until the right time to serve. I told mom that I might get a recipe for a delicious flan, and have been keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks so much, Ozymoe! You're really a sweetie to share with us!

I'm thinking this dessert will go along with my Mexican food dinner night, too! That will give us another reason for seconds!

Thanks again, Ozymoe. I know everyone appreciates your time in posting the recipe.

 

[karebear1]

That does sound really yummy! Thank you for posting the recipe. I'm thinking I may have to make it on our next trip to WDW and BCV's!

 

[melanieewr]

Grilled Pineapple slices are really good. If I am grilling for dessert to go with ice cream then I will sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar. If it is to accompany the meal then I just grill...really good!

 

[sweet maxine]

Hello from the Mississippi Delta!

I am originally from Arkansas, but now live in Mississippi. I know Arkansas has some of the most beautiful scenery. I really miss it!

Thanks for the grilled pineapple idea. I am packing some caramels to melt and also a jar of caramel sauce so that we can be close to authentic (not really the same, but oh well).

I told my mother about the flan recipe, and she wants a copy of it to make for one of her senior groups next week. I just hope she doesn't get any ideas about middle Eastern food, cause there's NO WAY I'm gonna do any belly dancing!! LOL!!

 

[MEM]

Thank you Sweet Maxine!

Thank you for the idea of the crockpot chocolate pudding cake! I am having a Lilo and Stitch luau in a few weeks for DD 8th birthday party. I have several ideas for desserts, such as mini-island cupcakes complete with graham cracker crumb "sand", palm tree and beach umbrella.

I could call the crockpot cake a "volcano" cake and with any luck, it will "blurp" like a lava flow.

MEM

 

[Ozymoe]

Do you have a good recipe for that Crockpot Chocolate Pudding Cake? Can it be made in any size crockpot?

 

[my3princes]

I would also love a crock pot chocolate cake recipe. It sounds great.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm looking for it, so it may take a few minutes. I had the same thought about the 'lava' with this cake. I think it's kind of like the chocolate cobbler at Cracker Barrel. I'll be back when I find it.

MEM, the Dollar Tree had some really cute Hawaiian theme party supplies, but here their selection was running low as of yesterday. I wish I could find the Lilo and Stitch soundtrack for 50% off!

 

[KimOhio]

oh please find it it sounds so yummy

 

[sweet maxine]

Okay, here it is. You can make it in a 4 1/2 to 6 qt. crock pot cooker. Make sure to spray the crockery bowl with Pam before cooking.

Crock Pot Chocolate Pudding Cake

1 box devil's food cake mix
1 pkg. chocolate pudding mix (instant type)
4 eggs (large)
3/4 cup Crisco oil (or other brand)
16 oz. container of sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup water
1 cup of chocolate chips

First, mix up the cake and pudding mixes, eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add the water and beat with an electric mixer on low, for about 30 seconds.
Scrape the sides down, and then beat again at medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add the chocolate chips, folding them in.

Spray the crock pot with Pam and pour in the batter. Place the cover on the cooker and cook until it is puffed up in the middle and starts to pull away from the sides. Cooking times are: 6 1/2 to 7 hrs on low setting or about 3 1/2 hours on high. Serve this cake warm from the cooker.

Now, doesn't that sound yummy?

 

[MEM]

I found the recipe just by doing a search using the words "crockpot chocolate cake recipe" -- most recipes that came up were identical -- using choc cake mix, choc pudding mix, sour cream etc. I don't have it here since I'm at work!

Our Dollar Trees, Family Dollars, etc. in suburban Boston are a joke! Absolute garbage that is not worth the prices. I got all of my luau stuff from Oriental Trading using a special free shipping code for a limited time. I bought gorgeous silk-like birds of paradise and red anthurium flowers at Walmart for $3.00 -- plan to stick them among my hostas since the party is outside. I bought both of the Lilo and Stitch CDs for my kids for their Easter baskets -- one is the movie soundtrack and the other is a follow-up. To make it easy on Mom we will order Hawaiian style pizza from Domino's with plain cheese pizza for the less adventurous.
Eventually I will post this party on the www.birthdaypartyideas.com site.

 

[sweet maxine]

I guess we're just lucky here with Dollar Tree stores. The one where I live is not even as large or with a good a selection as those about an hours drive from here. But I'm not driving an hour just for Dollar Tree. If I happen to be in the area, usually I will stop and browse if I have the time. I hope everyone enjoys the crock pot cake.

I love your ideas, MEM. I may have to make another trip to Wal Mart today to look for the flowers. Everyone here is really getting into this theme night idea. It just gets too cost prohibitive when you have several people to feed in the restaurants. I know we will be eating a few times at counter service places with the vouchers, but I can't really rationalize spending over $100 at each meal for dinner at the parks. We can buy a lot of groceries for that, and kind of prefer the quiet atmosphere of the cabins for dinner. I would love to hear any ideas you may have for our Mexican food night!

 

[MEM]

Try the www.birthdaypartyideas.com site and search for Mexican or fiesta parties or Cinco de Mayo. Ton of great ideas and many are not birthday-party specific, although they will begin that way.
Beware, that site is addictive!

I think you will get a ton of mileage out of your Fort Wilderness luau. Ohana is a great way to spend an hour but as a seasoned camper, I think I would prefer the luau!

 

[Earstou]

I almost made an erupting volcano cake for my dd's graduation last year, but went with the traditional bakery cake since I made all the luau food. But I still think it looks like fun! Here's that recipe:
Erupting Volcano Cake

First, bake your favorite cake in an oven-proof bowl, then hollow a well in the top for the lava!~

1 small, short juice glass to fit in the well with the top even or below the top of the cake
1 small box of red Jell-O
1 small bottle of lemon juice
1 Tbsp of bicarbonate of soda

Make Jell-O according to package directions. Let cool 15 minutes. Fill juice glass 1/2 full with the warm Jell-O. (Not hot). Pour in enough lemon juice so that it is 1/2" from the top. Place the glass down in the well on top of the cake. Place the cake on a table and when everyone is ready, put 1 Tbsp bicarbonate of soda onto the glass and briefly stir. Jell-O lava will immediately pour out the top of the glass and flow down the sides of the cake.

From http://www.spike-jamie.com/recipes3/recipes321.html

 

[sweet maxine]

That's too funny!

I have never heard of that recipe, but we may have to try that.

This crazy idea I had has really turned into a lot of fun that I didn't expect. I am thinking about having theme night for about 4 nights now at the cabins. I think that's about all we can pull off with the park touring and swimming.

I'm open to any more ideas for themes. Does anyone have suggestions?

 

[sweet maxine]

My oldest daughter (mother of my grandson) has decided to fly down and join us for a few nights. She doesn't eat much of anything, so I'm thinking we may have "Chicken Nugget Night" in honor of her!

 

[sweet maxine]

Well, here I go again. My mom just sent me a picture of a cake she make to look like a pirate's treasure chest, so I think we'll have a Pirates of the Caribbean night now! I found chocolate coins yesterday at Big Lots, and the candy beads at the Dollar Tree. I'm taking my hand blender so that we can whiz up some mock daquiris, and probably serve Jamaican jerk chicken, and some kind of rice dish. I'm not sure how I'm going to decorate for this, but I know it will be really cheesy! Since I've burst my budget on the room for 2 weeks, I'll have to get my fun out of planning these goofy dinners!