Jeweled Pear Flan

This Jeweled Pear Flan is better if you make a cookie dough pastry instead of using ready-made pie dough from your local grocer. It’s easy to make, all you need is:
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon or orange zest
1/3 cup butter
1 egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the flour, sugar and zest. Cut in the butter then stir in the yolk and vanilla. Mix with hands. Pat into a 9” fluted Flan pan with a removable bottom. Press against bottom and sides and prick all over with a fork. Bake at 400F for 10-12 minutes, let cool.

Serves 6 Total Time 45 minutes (includes dough)

Flan Ingredients:

1 can (16oz) Bartelt pear halves or sliced
1 package (3oz) cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups milk
1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup seedless grapes
1/2 cup strawberries, halved
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Directions:

Drain pears, reserving liquid. Beat cream cheese until smooth then blend in 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid until smooth. Beat in the milk then reduce speed to add in the pudding mix for 1 minute. Pour into the prepared cookie dough pastry and chill until firm. Arrange slices of pears, grapes and halved strawberries over filling. Stir a half cup of the reserved liquid with the cornstarch in a saucepan and cook over med/high heat until thickens and clears. Let cool at room temperature. Spoon over flan. Chill. Yum Yum!