365 Countdown

I turned 50 today - (well yesterday now that it's 12:30am.) So I'm starting this blog about one of my favorite things - food. Of course, I'm sure I'll talk about other things as well. But to start out with I will be sharing my favorite recipes and places to eat.

Anyone who knows me well knows that my favorite dessert is creme brulee. And even though I didn't have it for my birthday today the first recipe I'm sharing is for creme brulee.

I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com a few years ago and it works perfectly every time. When having friends over for this dish allow them to carmelize their own ramekin of custard. They love playing with the torch. :)

1 extra-large egg

4 extra-large egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespooon for each serving

3 cups heavy cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon orange liqueur (or other flavoring of choice)

Preheat the over to 300 degrees F.

In the bowl of an eletric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the egg, egg yolks, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together on low speed until just combined. Meanwhile, scald the cream in a small saucepan until it's very hot to the touch but not boiled. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cream to the eggs. Add the vanilla and orange liqueur and pour into 6 to 8-ounce ramekins until almost full.

Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour the boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the custards are set when gently shaken. Remove the custards from the water bath, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until firm.

To serve, spread 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on the top of each ramekin and heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar carmelizes evenly. Allow to sit at room temperature for a minute until the carmelized sugar hardens.