Creme Brulee

This dish served as a decadent dessert on Christmas Eve - it was the perfect ending to a great meal.  I thought it would be really difficult, but it was really easy and it got compliments from everyone!  Make this for your next special meal - it's worth it and is a real treat.

Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup or so of light brown sugar.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Whisk the cream, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until creamy.   Pour this mixture into 4 (6 or 7 oz) ramekins. Place the ramekins in a baking pan. Fill the baking pan with hot water, about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Place the pan with the ramekins in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour or so. After 45 minutes or so check them every ten minutes. You'll know they're done when you can stick a knife in one and it comes out clean. Remove the ramekins from the baking pan, set them on the counter, and let them cool for 15 minutes or so.


Then put them in the refrigerator and let them chill overnight.


Just before serving, sprinkle a thin layer of white sugar on the top of each,making sure to completely cover the top of the custard. Now torch it! We picked up a kitchen torch at Bed Bath & Beyond and it worked great - it's pretty fun too!  Or, if you don't have a torch, you can supposedly put them under the broiler for a minute or so. I haven't tried this.