Creole Oysters

• 10 stalks cardoons, cut into 2-inch julienne
• Juices of 1 lemon
• 6 cups heavy cream
• 4 dozen oysters, shucked with 1 cup of their liquor reserved
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons gumbo file powder

1. Peel and clean the cardoons.
2. Set aside in cold water to cover with the lemon juice.
3. In a heavy saucepan, reduce the cream by half over moderate heat.
4. While the cream reduces, cook the cardoons in salted boiling water until tender.
5. Drain and keep warm.
6. Strain the oyster liquor into the reduced cream and reduce the mixture by one-third to about 2 1/2 cups.
7. Add the cayenne.
8. Poach the oysters in the cream for 3 minutes.
9. Off the heat, stir in the file gumbo powder or add a pinch to each serving at the table.
10. Drain the cardoons thoroughly and arrange them on a heated deep platter.
11. Pour the oysters and cream over the cardoons.
12. Serve in heated soup plates.

stalks cardoons, lemon, heavy cream, oysters, cayenne pepper, gumbo file

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/creole-oysters (may not work)