Crab cakes"oo la la"

1      pound         backfin crabmeat -- or lump, picked
                        -- over
   2      tablespoons   butter
   2      tablespoons   all-purpose flour
     1/2  cup           half-and-half or milk
   1                    egg yolk
   1      tablespoon    Dijon-style mustard
   1      tablespoon    prepared horseradish
   1      tablespoon    capers -- chopped and drained
     1/2  teaspoon      salt
     1/4  teaspoon      ground black pepper
     1/8  teaspoon      ground cayenne pepper

Place the crabmeat in a mixing bowl and set aside.  Melt the butter in a
saucepan.  Whisk in the flour and cook several minutes, stirring all the
while.  Off the heat slowly whisk in the half-and-half.  Return the pan to the
heat and whisk constantly until thick.  Remove from the heat.  Whisk in the
egg yolk, mustard, horseradish, capers, salt, black pepper, and cayenne
pepper.  Let the mixture cool for several minutes.  Pour the cream mixture
over the crabmeat and gently mix together.  Cover the mixture and chill in the
refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before forming the cakes.

To prepare the coating, combine the eggs and milk in a bowl and beat until
well mixed.  Place the flour and bread crumbs in separate bowls.

Form the crab mixture into 8 cakes about 1 inch thick.  Do not pack the batter
too firmly.  The cakes should be as loose as possible, but still hold their
shape.  Dust each cake lightly in flour, dip in the egg-milk mixture, and then
coat well with bread crumbs.  Chill at least 1 hour before frying.

In a large, heavy skillet, pour in oil until it reaches a depth of 1/2 inch.
Add the cakes and panfry, turning several times, until golden brown, about 6
minutes total cooking time.

Serve at once.

Notes: Tina Martinelli of Ruxton, Maryland took a French cooking
correspondence class and was binding up almost everything in sight with her
newly discovered classic French sauces.  One year in honor of Bastille Day
(France's Independence Day), she adapted an old family deviled crab recipe to
arrive with this dish.  The majority of Chesapeake-style crab cakes are
mayonnaise based; these, however, are bound by a tangy cream sauce and then
lightly coated, a pleasant departure from tradition.  When Tina serves these
crab cakes to guests, she accompanies them with scalloped potatoes and fresh
asparagus, topped with (but of course!) hollandaise sauce.

"Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields" tv recipes, www.johnshields.com