1 onion, finely chopped
1 stick celery, finely chopped
1 leek, finely chopped
3 large tomatoes, peeled and seeded
2 dl – 6,6 fl. oz. cream
1 egg yolk
1 l – 4 cups water
2 glasses dry white wine
1 small glass brandy
Bouquet garni (thyme, bayleaf, 2 stalks parsley, clove of garlic)
60 g – 2 oz. butter
30 g – 1 oz. flour

Melt 30 g (1 oz.) of butter in a large saucepan and gently cook the finely chopped vegetables over a low heat, without browning, for about 10 minutes. Shell the shrimps, reserving the shells and heads. Add the shells and heads of shrimps to the vegetables, pour a liter of hot water into the saucepan, add the bouquet garni and tomatoes. Season with pepper, but no salt at this stage, as the shrimp heads and shells may be salty enough. Cover and simmer gently for one hour.

Pour the stock through a sieve, pressing the vegetables and shells with a wooden spoon to extract all the juice. Melt the rest of the butter in the saucepan, add the flour and make a roux. Stirring constantly, add the vegetable and shrimp stock in a steady stream and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Beat the egg yolk and cream together. Away from the heat, stir in the egg and cream mixture. Add the shrimps and brandy. Return the saucepan to a *very* low heat, stir gently until the soup thickens slightly and the shrimps are cooked (this should take just 2-3 minutes). DON’T let the soup boil, or it may curdle.

Makes 4 servings.

Source: A Taste of the Belgian Provinces, Enid Gordon and Midge Shirley (published by The Tuesday Group, rue Frans Merjay, 1060 Brussels).

2 bunches watercress
1 large onion
1 leek
500 g – 1,1 lb potatoes
1 1/2 l – 6 cups chicken stock
1 dl – 3,3 fl. oz. cream
30 g – 1 oz. butter
Salt, pepper to taste

Chop the onion and the white of the leek and saute in butter in a large saucepan for 2-3 minutes. Peel and chop the potatoes. Roughly chop the leaves and tender stalks of the watercress. Add watercress, potatoes, and the stock to the saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes.

When done, liquidize, return the soup to the saucepan, season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the cream and cook for a further three minutes.

Makes 4 servings.

Source: A Taste of the Belgian Provinces, Enid Gordon and Midge Shirley (published by The Tuesday Group, rue Frans Merjay, 1060 Brussels).

2,25 kg – 5 lb mussels
2 onions
2 shallots
1 stick celery
1 tb butter
33 cl – 10 fl. oz. bottle pale ale
1 ts cornflour
3 egg yolks
1,5 dl – 5 fl. oz cream
Salt, pepper

Scrape and clean the mussels thoroughly, removing the beards and discarding any broken or open ones. Wash them in several waters.

Chop the onions, shallots and celery finely. In a very deep saucepan, melt the butter. Add the mussels and stir. Pour in the beer, add the pepper and very little salt, cover the saucepan and cook the mussels over a medium flame until they have all opened.

Remove the mussels, reserving the liquid. Open the mussels, leaving them on the half shell, and layer them in a wide, semi-shallow serving dish.

Strain the liquid into a smaller saucepan. Mix the cornflour into a paste with a little water and add it to the liquid. Heat this to just under simmering point. Beat the egg yolks and cream and gradually beat in a little hot liquid. Pour the mixture into the saucepan, whisking all the time, until it thickens: it MUST NOT boil.

Check the seasoning, then pour the sauce over the mussels, and serve.

Makes 4 servings.

Source: A Taste of the Belgian Provinces, Enid Gordon and Midge Shirley (published by The Tuesday Group, rue Frans Merjay, 1060 Brussels).