Cream Cheese Flan

Cook 1 cup sugar in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until sugar melts and turns a light golden brown. Quickly pour hot caramelized sugar into a 2-quart flan dish. Using oven mitts, tilt dish to evenly coat bottom and sides.

Let stand 5 minutes. Sugar will harden.

Whisk together egg yolks and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl.

Process egg whites, cream cheese, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in blender until smooth. Stir egg white mixture into egg yolk mixture.

Pour mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a large bowl; pour custard over caramelized sugar.

Place dish in a large shallow pan.

Add hot water to pan to a depth of one-third up sides of dish.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Remove dish from water bath; cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 3 hours.

Run a knife around edge of flan to loosen; invert onto a serving plate.