Lavender creme brulee

This is really simple, and a house favorite. The only hard part about it is going and getting the little blow torch if you don't already have one. Also, most people I know don't have a bunch of ramekins sitting around. If you like to entertain a lot, they are worth getting.

I pick up the lavender flowers at the San Rafael market for 5 bucks a scoop. You can also get them at Berkeley Bowl (or probably any other health food store) in the beauty section, probably in between the alfalfa seeds and chamomile flowers- or something like that.

1 qt (4 C) heavy cream

3 heaping tablespoons lavender flowers

Put flowers in a pot with the cream and bring almost to a boil. Turn heat off and cover and steep- the longer the better. strain into a pitcher (it's easier to pour into the eggs if it's in a pitcher).

6 egg yolks

scant 1/2 sugar

1 t vanilla (or throw a scraped vanilla pod in with the cream and flowers if you have one)

Whisk together in a bowl until pale yellow and slowly temper in the flowery cream. Mix well and pour the mixture back into the pitcher. Let the mixture sit for a minute, then skim all the foamy bubbles off the top.

Put 9-10 ramekins in your biggest rectangular .pan (like a brownie pan) and pour some water in the pan so it comes about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Fill the ramekins with the custard. I like to quickly run the torch over the top to burn off any air bubbles to ensure a nice even surface. Bake about 300-325 for 50-60 minutes. They will be a little bit jiggly when you take them out, but they will set up in the frig. Remove from water bath and cool. Chill for a few hours. Everyone's oven is different. Mine has intense heat from the top, so I have to set the temp a little lower and put them on the bottom rack, and cover the top rack with tin foil so the tops don't burn. You might have to make 2 batches ;) I always do at first. Even if they do brown a little, the sugar should cover it up.

Spread a scant teaspoon of sugar over the top so it lies evenly and burn it quickly with a little blow torch. You can pick up a little handheld butane thing at Sur La Table or any store like that. You can also get a big butane torch at the hardware store- that's what I use.

Decorate and enjoy!