Creme Brulee

Creme Brulee is one of our favorites and this French Friday gave us the opportunity to try it at home !



Per Nana:

Many years ago Tricia gave me a creme brulee set with ramekins

that included a kitchen torch.  I thought about using it a few times

 but just never got around to it.  I think that I was afraid to use the

torch for some reason and put it away with all the other

collectibles in the basement.

I was very happy to see creme brulee as one of the selections 

 for December.  However, finding butane fluid became a problem. 

 I tried a lot of various stores, William Sonoma, drug stores where

 cigarettes are sold, etc. and  all of them telling me to go

 to Walmart.  I don't know why this is so difficult to locate, but, viola,  

Walmart had four.  One for me and one for Tricia. 

 I left two for anyone planning on making creme brulee

this happy holiday season.

Dorie's version of creme brulee is a little different

since she uses a jam or jelly base before pouring the

 pudding into the ramekin.  My choice was a little

marmalade, but I did not taste it in the final results.

For the sugar topping I used raw sugar.

After doing this first set, I was on a roll.  

Hubby loved it, so not wanting to waste the rest of the

heavy cream, I decided to try the recipe that came with the set. 

 This called for only cream, less vanilla, and more egg yolks. 

This was equally delicious, and at this point, I think it

 is just a matter of taste on the individual's part. 

Now that I have mastered the kitchen torch,

I wonder if Tricia and her family would like

Baked Alaska for Christmas dessert.  

Tricia???

Per Tricia:

Yes, please !

So far my only contribution to this week has been to taste test

numerous versions of Nana's creme brulee.  She was on a roll indeed

and I have gained at least 5 pounds from her fantastic creations ! 

 My creme brulee will be coming for holiday dessert as we

 are on our way up to Vermont again to celebrate and I have

6 creme brulee dishes waiting from me at a lovely little

kitchen shop who special ordered them for me. 

 It is actually a retail shop located at the "JK Adams" woodworking

 company whose company headquarters is in a small Vermont town. 

They are famous for their carving boards that are sold all over

 the world and by such retailers as Crate and Barrel, LL Bean, etc.

They have  an amazing "cooks store" and I put a few ramekins

on order at Thanksgiving.  I will take photos of this neat shop

when I pick them up tomorrow and post them later, but for now

 I wanted to get Nana's results posted before we head out.

PS- when my younger son's reaction was priceless when he found

creme brulee a la Nana sitting in the fridge.  His eyes popped open

and he turned around slowly, asking "can I"?

He loves this treat as much as his mother, who had it more times

 than she is going to admit while visiting France :)

Happiest of Holidays to Dorie and all the Doristas !!!!