ANCHO CHILE FLAN

Steps:

• Place the sugar in a small skillet or saucepan with 1/2 cup of water.
• Stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then let the liquid boil down, becoming an amber colored syrup.
• Pour the hot syrup into an 8-cup flan mold, tipping it to lightly coat the entire bottom and most of the sides. Let it cool and harden.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and set a pot of water on to boil.
• Beat together lightly the eggs and egg yolks.
• Add the whole, evaporated, and condensed milk and blend together. Stir in the orange juice and vanilla extract. Mix in the piloncillo or dark brown sugar, stirring until it dissolves.
• Fold in the chile strips and pour the mixture into the caramelized mold.
• Place the mold in a large baking pan on the middle rack of the oven. Carefully pour the hot water into the pan--enough to reach halfway up the sides of the flan mold.
• Bake for 1 1/2-2 hours, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Ad more hot water if necessary.
• Remove the pan with the flan from the oven. Let it cool for at least one hour, then refrigerate, covered, for 8-10 hours.
• To make the sauce, blend the orange juice, piloncillo or dark brown sugar, and ancho chile together in a blender or food processor.
• Pour into a small saucepan, bring to a boil over medium heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the orange rind, remove from the heat immediately, and stir in the dissolved cornstarch.
• Set aside to cool.
• To Serve:.
• Loosen the sides of the flan with a thin sharp knife and invert onto a large, round serving plate. Drizzle the sauce over the top.