Creme Brulee

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
6 large egg yolks, chilled
6 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 cups whipping cream, chilled
4 tablespoons dark brown sugar

(serves 6)

1. Heat oven to 275.
2. Butter six 1/2 cup ramekins and set them in a glass baking pan
3. Whisk yolks in med. bowl until slightly thickened.
4. Add white sugar and whisk until dissolved
5. Whisk in cream, then pour mixture into ramekins
6. Set baking on oven rack and pour warm water into pan to come halfway up the ramekins.
7. Bake uncovered until custards are just barely set, about 45 minutes.
8. Remove pan from oven, leaving ramekins in hot water; cool to room temperature.
9. Cover each ramekin with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours
10. Dry brown sugar out in oven (~20 min)
11. After custard has set, sprinkle brown sugar on top and broil 2-3 minutes.

Seafood Gumbo from Mark Smith

Gumbo, an African contribution to Louisiana cookery, is a spicy cross between a soup and a stew. There are many variations of ingredients, but all Gumbo's begin with dark roux, a combination of flour and fat, slowly browned. As old Creole cooks used to say, "don't rush the roux, or you'll ruin the Gumbo."

1/2 lb Okra, thinly sliced
1 lg onion, thinly sliced
1 lg bell pepper, seeded and sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp flour
2 bay leaves
3 cup water
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 lb shrimp
1/2 lb lump crab
1/2 tsp salt
Pepper to taste

Spray lg. skillet and put over med heat. Add Okra, Onion, B.Pepper, Garlic, and Celery for 5 min until softened...set aside.

Roux: add oil to skillet, then flour...stir until well blended. 10 min will yield a rich brown, but not too brown or black.

Add water slowly in a thin stream, stirring to remove lumps, and bring to low heat. Add spices and tomatoes. Add the cooked veggies for 5 minutes, then add seafood until the shrimp is cooked.

Remove Bay leaves and season to taste.

Eileen's Crack Salsa

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans white corn, rinsed and drained
3-4 cans Rotel, slightly drained...spicy if you like it
1 diced red onion
2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced
Chopped Cilantro
4 avocados, diced

Let sit so the garlic and onion permeate. Maybe add lime juice?

MMMMmmmmmmm......