vanilla creme brulee

my dad's girlfriend bought me a creme brulee torch and dishes for christmas this year. i whipped it out this new year's eve to give it a try. i had never made this dessert before, but it was surprisingly simple.  it was creamy and decadent, but not too rich. i used the traditional recipe that came with the set, but will definitely be trying out different versions soon. if you're a beginner like me, stick with this recipe for the first time and you can't go wrong.

ingredients:
1 cup cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 egg yolks
1 whole egg
1/4 cup sugar
brown sugar

directions:
preheat oven to 325 degrees.

combine heavy cream, milk and vanilla. heat to boil. remove from heat and steep 10 minutes.

with an electric mixer, combine eggs and sugar. add the milk mixture in a steady stream. strain mixture through a fine strainer. skim foam off top.

divide into 4 ramekins. set in baking dish and pour enough hot water around ramekins to come to 1/2 way up the sides. place in oven for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, until just set. will tremble slightly. refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

cover top with lots of brown sugar. caramelize the tops with torch and eat immediately.