Maple Creme Flan with Maple Roasted Pears

Was it trouble to make? Well, yes, as usual.

Was it worth it? OH YEAH.
Start making this heart-attack inducing dessert at least one day ahead...

One of the cooks on Epicurious.com recommends:
"If you have a setting problem, it may be that your eggs were not large enough - egg yolk is the thickening agent here. You could try testing by cooking a bit in a ramekin first (which is what I did given the comments) - a ladleful for about 20 minutes at 325 - don't bother with the covering and waterbath. Then pop in the freezer once cool enough for a few minutes. If it doesn't look as if it is going to set, beat up an extra egg yolk and add the mix to it."


MAPLE CREME FLAN WITH MAPLE-GLAZED PEARS
(Swiped directly from Bon Appetit - Nov 2002)

Flan
1 cup pure maple syrup
3 1/2 cups whipping cream
7 large egg yolks
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup

Pears
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3 ripe Bartlett pears, unpeeled, quartered, cored
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
1/8 teaspoon salt


For flan:
Simmer maple syrup in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 7 minutes. Stir in cream; return to simmer.
Whisk egg yolks in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture. Whisk in salt. Strain custard into another large bowl. Cover and chill until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 300°F. Stir sugar, 1/4 cup water, and light corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 6 minutes. Pour syrup into 9 1/4x5 1/4x3-inch nonstick metal loaf pan, tilting pan carefully to coat sides. Let stand 10 minutes.

Pour custard into pan with syrup. Place loaf pan in large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come halfway up sides of loaf pan. Cover roasting pan with foil. Pierce foil all over with fork. Bake flan 1 hour 45 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 325°F. Uncover and bake until flan is set around edges but center moves slightly when pan is gently shaken, about 1 hour longer. (NB: It WILL be pretty jiggly in the middle, but follow the timing and pull it out as it will firm up in the refrigerator) Remove flan from water. Transfer to rack; cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

For pears:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Melt butter in heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange pears, 1 cut side down, in skillet. Cook until brown, about 4 minutes. Turn onto second cut side and cook until brown, about 4 minutes longer. Stir in maple syrup; bring to boil. Place in oven and bake until pears are tender, about 25 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to plate. Whisk crème fraîche and salt into sauce in skillet. Return pears to skillet and toss to coat.

Run sharp knife around edge of flan to loosen. Invert flan onto platter. Surround with pears and sauce.

Makes 12 servings.