Seafood Bisque Casserole

1. Preheat oven broiler.

2. Cook bacon in soup pot over medium high heat until crispy.

3. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of drippings and add butter. Once butter is melted and sizzling, sauté shallots about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and scallops. Cook 3–4 minutes just until done, being careful not to overcook. Using slotted spoon, remove seafood from juices. Stir in salt, pepper and ¼ cup of sherry; reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes.

4. Whisk flour into remaining sherry to make a slurry.

5. Stir milk into simmering liquid. Once warm, whisk in slurry and continue heating several minutes, whisking until thickened. Return seafood to bisque and heat 1 minute.

6. Spoon over pasta in a large baking dish. Scatter with crabmeat, cheese and crumbs. Place in oven on middle rack and broil 4–5 minutes to melt cheese and brown crumbs. Garnish with bacon and parsley. Serve immediately.

* If preferred, the bisque can be prepared as noted without the pasta to be spooned over grits, rice, mashed potatoes or into phyllo pastry cups.