[bbgapril]

Oysters Rockefeller

Ingredients (Makes 8 servings):

1 pound butter
1 rib celery -- finely chopped
2 bunches scallions -- finely chopped
1 bunch parsley -- fine chopped
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Tabasco
1/2 to 3/4 cup Herbsaint or Pernod
1 1/4 cups seasoned bread crumbs
48 Oysters in their shells
Rock salt

Melt the butter in a large skillet and add the celery, scallions and parsley. Saute for 5 minutes, then add the Worcestershire and Tabasco. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes. Add the Herbsaint or Pernod and bread crumbs; cook for 5 minutes more. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the mixture to a bowl.

Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, until cold but not firmly set. Using an oyster knife, pry open the oyster shells then remove the oysters. Discard the top shells; scrub and dry the bottom shells. Drain the oysters. Arrange 6 oyster shells on an ovenproof pan or tray lined with a layer of rock salt about an inch deep. Make 8 trays in all. Place 1 oyster in each shell. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the chilled Rockefeller topping from the refrigerator and beat it with an electric mixer to evenly distribute the butter and infuse air into the mixture; transfer the mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip. Pipe a tablespoon of the mixture onto each oyster, then bake in a 375 degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes. Serve each person a tray of piping hot oysters.