Cuban Flan

Ingredients

• 1½ cups sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 3 egg whites
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• the peel of 1 lemon
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ cup water

Directions

1. Prepare a caramel by adding the ¼ cup of water to ¾ cups of sugar in a small saucepan over medium to low heat.
2. Stir while cooking until the sugar starts melting.
3. Let it simmer.
4. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash the sides of the pan free of granular sugar.
5. When sugar starts to thicken and turn brown remove from heat and add 2 cubes of ice to stop the cooking process, being very careful not to get burned with any splattering that may occur.
6. Coat a warm baking dish or round mold by pouring the caramel and swirl it around the sides and bottom.
7. Put the coated mold aside( by the way the mold should be 9 inches in diameter).
8. Now comes the good part.
9. In a saucepan bring to a boil the milk with the lemon peel, cinnamon stick and salt.
10. When the mixtures starts to boil remove from heat and let it cool a little bit.
11. In a medium bowl beat lightly the egg yolks, egg whites, vanilla and sugar until well mixed.
12. Pour into the bowl the slightly cooled milk and strain the egg and milk mixture into the caramel coated mold.