The word for 2014 is coming but it’s coming in pieces — in processing — because it doesn’t always come as a single “word” …it may come as a phrase or a concept.  My word is coming and I think it has something to do with listening …listening for the voice and heart of God  as He sings over me …listening for the beautiful harmony of others  as they sing into my life as well.

I’m learning … listening is much more than just being quiet.  It involves actively “giving ear” — paying attention — for the purpose of really hearing .  

In listening ,  something of God’s heart became a little  clearer …

When Jesus came to earth as a baby — Emmanuel, God with us — He came to be with us but He also came to do life with us.  He engaged in daily activity with the people He came to be with  because doing for others can end up being one-sided.  Doing with others has to do with relationship …friendship.  And wasn’t it Jesus Himself Who not only showed up on planet earth but also walked  with those He loved.

Doing for is my gift to you.  Doing with is our gift to each other.

This recipe of Mexican Flan represents a gift of friendship…ingredients of food and friendship …doing with— shared by my sweet neighbor who has become a very dear friend — Lea Rodriguez.

Flan Recipe

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 can of evaporated milk

4 oz. cream cheese

Vanilla (I tried to measure as she “dumped” and we came up with about 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons?)

cinnamon

6 eggs

sugar

1.  Begin by placing a larger roasting pan (we used one of those disposable turkey roasting pans) in the oven with water filling about 1/2 of pan.  Preheat oven and water to 400 degrees.

2.  Combine sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream cheese, vanilla and eggs in blender.  Sprinkle cinnamon on top and blend away !

3.  In pan (we used a heavier 9″ cake pan) — over medium heat, pour about 1/2  of sugar ? (see picture ) and stir until caramelized …

which means it will start to look like this …

4.  Pour the mixture from the blender into the pan over  the “now-caramelized” sugar 🙂

5.  Cover with foil, place flan pan inside large baking pan making sure the water comes up to at least the 1/2 way mark on the flan pan and bake in 400 degree oven for at least 1 hour — Our’s took an hour and 1/2 .

this is where Lea is making sure the water in the roasting pan is covering at least 1/2  the flan pan …

Mix together friends, conversation and fun …

6.  While the flan is baking, enjoy good conversation  with your friend !  We watched youtube videos of family and friends and listened to worship music –Spanish style— sung by Marcos Witt !  This time is priceless as you share and learn about each other’s culture and family and what really matters in life.

7.  After 1 hour, Lea began the “checking to see if it’s done” by inserting a knife right through the foil.  She says as long as it comes out clean without any white on the knife, it’s done 🙂  (This is my biggest fear that I might serve someone something uncooked and make them sick so I needed to actually SEE this whole process in person 🙂

8.  Using a larger serving plate, invert the flan onto the plate .

Here’s the finished product of the flan ; however, the finished product of the friendship is ongoing and never finished !

I’m pretty sure at this point you’re supposed to let it cool and chill it in the fridge before serving but you know how that goes when you’re having such a good time, right ??