Chicken Stew with Leeks & Kale

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut in to bite-size pieces
• 3 leeks, sliced and cleaned
• 8 oz. kale
• 2 Tbs butter
• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 3 Tbs flour, divided
• 4 cups chicken stock, divided
• 1.5 cups water
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 large baking potato, peeled and diced (1/2 inch)
• salt & pepper to taste

In a large, non-stick soup pot, saute leeks in butter over medium heat. Meanwhile, in a large non-stick skillet or ditch oven, saute chicken and sprinkle with 2 Tbs flour and salt and pepper to taste. When chicken is browned (about 8 minutes), add to leeks, then deglaze pan with wine. Whisk remaining Tbs of flour into 1 cup stock, add to wine, and bring to a boil. Add to chicken and leek mixture, then add remaining liquids. Bring to a boil, add potatoes, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add kale and simmer another 5 to 10 minutes.

Pumpkin Flan

• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 5 whole large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
• 1 (15-oz) can solid-pack pumpkin (1 3/4 cups; not pie filling)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350F.

Make caramel:
Cook 1 1/2 cups sugar in a dry 12-inch skillet over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a fork, until sugar melts into a deep golden caramel. Pour into twelve 6-oz. ramekins, then let harden.

Make flan:
Bring cream and milk to a bare simmer in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, then remove from heat. Whisk together whole eggs, yolk, and remaining cup sugar in a large bowl until combined well, then whisk in pumpkin, vanilla, spices, and salt until combined well. Add hot cream mixture in a slow stream, whisking.

Ladle custard over caramel in ramekins, then bake in a water bath until flan is golden brown on top and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Remove ramekins from water bath and transfer to a rack to cool. Chill flan, covered, until cold, at least 6 hours.

To serve:
Run a thin knife between flan and side of ramekin to loosen. Shake dish gently from side to side and, when flan moves freely in dish, invert a dessert plate over dish. Holding dish and platter securely together, quickly invert and turn out flan onto platter. (Caramel will pour out over and around flan.) Serve flan with gingered (or cinnamon) whipped cream.