Chesapeake Bay Crab Soup

Cook all vegetables together in water, barely enough to cover, and let simmer 1 hour.

In another pot, boil crabs very gently 1/2 hour.

Remove from water and cut into small pieces, shells and all.

Put into vegetables along with liquid in which the crabs were cooked. Add crab meat and legs.

Simmer gently 1 hour.

Warm a little water in a saucepan. Work butter and flour in and add cream, stirring carefully. Stir this mixture into crab soup.

Add salt and pepper to taste.