Baked Seafood Au Gratin


1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup butter
1 cup all−purpose flour
1 pound fresh crab meat
4 cups water
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 pound bay scallops
1/2 pound flounder fillets
3 cups milk
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
dash hot red pepper sauce
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Lightly grease one 13x9x2 inch baking dish. In a heavy skillet,
saute the onion and the pepper in 1/2 cup of the butter or margarine.
Cook until tender. Stir in 1/2 cup of the flour and cook over medium
heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the crabmeat and stir
well. Press this mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish
and set aside.

In a large Dutch oven, bring the water to a boil. Add the shrimp,
scallops and flounder. Simmer for 3 minutes. Drain and reserve 1 cup
of the cooking liquid and set the seafood aside.

Preheat oven to 350F. In a heavy saucepan, melt the remaining
1/2 cup butter over low heat. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup flour.
Cook and stir constantly for 1 minute. Gradually add the milk plus
the 1 cup reserved cooking liquid. Raise heat to medium and cook,
stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir
in the shredded Cheddar cheese, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt,
pepper, and hot sauce. Add the cooked seafood and stir gently.
Spoon the seafood mixture over the crabmeat crust and sprinkle with
the Parmesan cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or
until lightly browned. Serve immediately.