Manjar {Brazilian Coconut Custard}

One of those easy desserts, you know

unlike cherry pie.

Manjar is a Brazilian coconut custard/pudding. Think flan, now add coconut taste to flan. That is a manjar. Except that it's way easier to make than flan because you don't need to bake it. It's goes from stove top to fridge to mouth in less than an hour.

Manjar

• 3 cups milk
• 4 tablespoons corn starch
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 can coconut milk (not to be confused with coconut water)
• 1 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened.
• prunes.
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons sugar

1. Add all the milk and corn starch to a medium sized pan. 
2. Dissolve the corn starch completely in the milk. This is really the most important step. You want to mix until the corn starch is totally dissolved otherwise you're going to get nasty corn starch lumps.
3. Add the sweetened condensed milk and the coconut milk and mix until everything is well incorporated and dissolved. 
4. Turn the stove top on to medium heat and start stirring. You will probably stir for a good 20 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken. 
5. Mix until the mixture starts pulling away from the bottom of the pan.
6. Remove from heat and mix in the coconut flakes.
7. Put in your favorite serving dish and let cool completely. If the dish is shallow it will cool faster. However, if you put it in the fridge it really should settle and be ready to serve within 1/2 an hour.
8. While the manjar is cooling make your prune sauce. Add the prunes, water, and sugar to a small pan and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Let cool completely. Serve on top of the manjar.

The reason why I am posting this recipe is because I had every intention of making cherry pie for the 4th of July but Christian told me that it would take me at least 3 hours to pit the cherries. Is he right? I mean, I've never made cherry pie before but 3 hours seems insane. Is it just me or do Brazilian recipes seem so much easier to make than American recipes?

What's your favorite easy American recipe? I need some ideas for this weekend.