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James's Boiled Crawfish

1 1/2 gal water 
10 x bay leaves 
1 cup salt 
3/4 cup ground red pepper 
1/4 cup whole allspice 
2 tbs mustard seeds 
1 tbs coriander seeds 
1 tbs dill seeds 
1 tbs red pepper flakes 
1 tbs black peppercorns 
1 tsp whole cloves 
4 x celery ribs quartered 
3 med onions halved 
3 x garlic bulbs halved crosswise 
5 lb crawfish 

 Method : 
Bring 1 1/2 gallons water to a boil in a 19-quart stockpot over high heat. Add bay leaves and next 12 ingredients to water. Return to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, 30 minutes.
Add crawfish. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat; cook 5 minutes. Remove stockpot from heat; let stand 30 minutes. (For spicier crawfish, let stand 45 minutes.)
Drain crawfish. Serve on large platters or newspaper.
This recipe yields 5 pounds.
Yield: 5 pounds

1788
French Parlement presents grievances to Louis XVI who agrees to convening of Estates-General in 1789-not called since 1613. Goethe's Egmont. Laplace's Laws of the Planetary System.