Lobster Thermidor

Newburg Sauce:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup clam juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons sherry
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons light cream

Melt butter over a medium low flame. When completely melted, add paprika and stir for 2 minutes. Add the flour to the butter and stir for 2 to 3 minutes to cook the roux. Stir constantly to avoid burning. Add the clam juice and stir until thickening begins. Add 1/4 cup milk, light cream and sherry. Simmer for 5 minutes and, if needed, add remaining 1/4 cup milk. Serve immediately or refrigerate for future use.

Lobster:
5 ounces lobster meat, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tablespoon finely chopped pimentos
1/2 cup thick sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon chopped chives
Butter for saut ing
1 tablespoon sherry
Newburg Sauce
1/2 to 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Over medium heat, melt enough butter to lightly cover the bottom of a heavy, large saute pan. Place the lobster, chives, pimentos and mushrooms in the pan and stir for 3 to 4 minutes.

Increase the heat to high and add the sherry to deglaze the pan. Be careful as the sherry may flame up as the alcohol burns off.

Stir in 4 ounces of Newburg Sauce and stir for 1 minute. Pour into a single serving casserole and sprinkle with the cheese.

Bake for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.

Serve immediately.