Mrs John F Kennedys Crème Brûlée Food

JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS' CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• In upper part of double boiler, heat 3 cups of heavy cream with the vanilla bean. In a bowl, beat 6 tablespoons of sugar with the egg yolks and eggs until light and creamy. Take out the vanilla bean, and stir the warm cream into the yolks very carefully and slowly. Return the mixture to the double boiler, over boiling water. Stir constantly until the custard coats the spoon. Then put into a glass serving dish and place it in the refrigerator to set. When ready to serve, cover the top of the custard completely with brown sugar, using 1/2 cup or more. Place the dish on a bowl of crushed ice and place custard under broiler flame until sugar melts and caramelizes. Keep watching it, for the sugar will burn. Serve immediately.

THE BEST CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line a large heavy roasting pan (a turkey roasting pan works great) with a clean kitchen towel and place 4 six-ounce ramekins on top of the towel spaced a few inches apart.
• Heat the cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Using the back of a paring knife, scrape the vanilla seeds from both halves of the pod. Add the seeds and pod to the cream. Whisk in the salt and 3 tablespoons of the sugar and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat.
• Vigorously whisk the yolks and 3 more tablespoons of the sugar in a large bowl until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an electric mixer on high speed and beat until pale yellow and very thick and creamy, about 1 minute.
• Whisking the yolks constantly, add a couple of teaspoons at a time from 1 cup of the hot cream, then increase to a steady stream until the cream is fully incorporated. (Don't pour too much hot cream at once or you'll end up with scrambled eggs.) The yolks are now tempered. Whisk the tempered yolks back into the remaining hot cream until combined. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or medium pitcher for easier pouring; discard the vanilla pods.
• Skim the foam off the top of the custard by placing a clean paper towel on top and lightly pressing down so it touches the surface and absorbs some of the liquid. This will make for a completely smooth and silky custard. Fill the ramekins with the custard, about 3/4 cup per ramekin.
• Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins without getting any water in the custard. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake until the custard is set around the edges but still has a slight jiggle in the center, 35 to 45 minutes. Carefully remove the roasting pan from the oven and transfer the ramekins to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. Then refrigerate until very cold, about 3 hours.
• Just before serving, evenly spread 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the top of a custard. Hold a kitchen torch 2 inches above the surface. Starting in the center of the ramekin, move the flame in a circular motion and work your way out to the edges to caramelize the sugar. Repeat with the remaining sugar and custards.
• Alternatively, arrange a rack in the top position of the oven and heat the broiler on high. Place the ramekins on a rack set inside a baking sheet and broil until deep golden brown, 15 to 60 seconds, checking every 10 seconds.
• Freeze the custards for 5 minutes before serving (see Cook's Note).

CHEF JOHN'S PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Whisk egg yolks and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in heavy cream, pumpkin puree, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
• Divide pumpkin mixture between seven (5-inch) ramekins about 1/2 inch from the top.
• Place the ramekins in a baking dish and fill with the baking dish hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
• Bake in preheated oven until just set, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove ramekins and refrigerate until completely cool, at least 2 hours.
• Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of sugar onto each creme brulee. Melt the sugar with a chef's torch until crisp and dark brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

MRS. JOHN F. KENNEDY'S CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Heat cream in top of double boiler over boiling water. In a bowl, beat egg yolks well. Gradually add granulated sugar and continue to beat until light and creamy. Slowly stir in hot cream. Place mixture in top of double boiler over gently simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture heavily coats a silver spoon. Add vanilla. Pour into a heat-proof 2-quart casserole. Chill several hours. Just before serving, sprinkle top evenly with brown sugar. Place in preheated broiler 3 inches from heat. Broil 1 to 2 minutes. Watch carefully; sugar will burn easily. Serve at once.

MRS. JOHN F. KENNEDY'S BAKED SEAFOOD CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Combine crab meat, shrimp, mayonnaise, green pepper, onion, celery, salt, and Worcestershire. Pour into a buttered 2-1/2 quart casserole. Top with crushed potato chips. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until mixture is thoroughly heated.

MRS. JOHN F. KENNEDY'S SOUFFLé FROID AU CHOCOLAT

Steps:

• Combine chocolate and confectioners' sugar in a saucepan. Gradually add hot milk, stirring constantly. Place over low heat and stir until mixture reaches the boiling point. Do not boil. Remove from heat. Stir in softened gelatin, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Chill until slightly thickened. Beat with a rotary beater until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Pour into a 2-quart serving dish. Chill 2 to 3 hours.