All alone

In general, I don't need dessert. I'm just as content to finish my dinner and watch some television before bed. But for some reason, if Thatboy's not home, I love to indulge in a little personal goodness all for myself. I usually pick something he's not into like...creme brulee. I don't have one of those fancy schmancy kitchen torches, but I've had pretty good success with placing the sugar topped sweet under the broiler for a few minutes to create that golden brown top. And in truth, I take the most pleasure out of piercing the top. Invite me over for creme brulee, let me poke holes in the dish, and I'm happy. I don't even have to eat it!

My favorite creme brulee to make incorporates passion fruit juice, but before you start playing around with different flavors it's good to have the basics down pat. So I returned to the basic creme brulee recipe, no frills, no fluff, for a little late night pick me up.

Basic Creme Brulee

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 egg yolks
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup plus 4 Tbs. sugar

1. Preheat an oven to 300°F. Put up a tea kettle of water to boil. In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks, salt and the 1/4 cup sugar until smooth and blended.
2. Gradually add the the cream, and vanilla to the egg mixture, whisking until blended.
3. Divide the custard among four 5- or 6-oz. ramekins and place the ramekins on a baking pan.
4. Add boiling water to fill the pan halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
5. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and bake until the custard is just set around the edges, 35 to 40 minutes.
6. Transfer the ramekins to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature.
7. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-6 hours.
8. Just before serving, sprinkle 1 Tbs. of the sugar evenly over each custard. Place under broiler until sugar carmalizes.

Serves 4.
Each serving has:

Calories		499.0
Total Fat		47.3 g
	Saturated Fat	28.6 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	2.2 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	14.2 g
Cholesterol		316.7 mg
Sodium		51.2 mg
Potassium		103.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate		16.3 g
	Dietary Fiber	0.0 g
	Sugars	12.7 g
Protein		4.4 g