Oct 17 2012

Crepes, Easy as 1-2-3

Posted by georgiapellegrini in Step-by-Step Recipes

Crepes are one of those things that I love so much, but rarely make for myself at home. Michelle Robin inspired me to try them at home with her quick and easy 1-2-3 Crepe Batter that definitely convinced me that I could make crepes for myself regularly and it wouldn’t be a production. These were addictively delicious and the possibilities for dressing them are endless. You could even go the savory route for dinner!

To start you will need: flour, milk, eggs, sugar (optional), and a pinch of salt. That’s it! It’s called 1-2-3 crepe batter because you’ll mainly use 1 cup flour, 2 cups milk, and 3 whole eggs.

In the bowl of an electric mixer (you could also do this by hand) blend together your ingredients, starting with the flour…

Then the sugar …

Then a pinch of salt …

The eggs …

And the milk.

If you’re feeling adventurous, add some other flavorings like vanilla if you’re in a sweet crepe mood.

Whisk it all together until you have a uniform batter. Then place your batter in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will allow the milk to absorb the flour and thicken slightly. If the batter seems too thin at first, letting it sit will remedy this.

Now get your accoutrements ready! I chose jam, whipped cream, raspberries, and peaches. But the possibilities are endless, really. Nutella perhaps? Or like I said, this would be great with cheese and steamed veggies.

This is what your batter will look like when it comes out of the refrigerator. A little runny but that’s good. Heat your skillet with a bit of oil or butter.

And pour in some batter. The idea is that you don’t want to overfill because you want the crepe to spread out so that it is thin.

It may take some practice. But it will still taste good no matter what it looks like.

This one was much nicer-looking, though a bit thicker. You can play with it and see what you like.

Once you’ve flipped them over and transferred them to a plate, you can serve them up with your favorite toppings. I started with strawberry jam.

Then whipped cream.

Then I blended it together in a medley of deliciousness.

Then some peaches and raspberries. It was heavenly.

You can even roll it up to be proper. It will melt in your mouth!

Thank you to Michelle Robin for this absolute winner!

Printable Recipe

1-2-3 Crepe Batter

by Michelle Robin on July 17, 2011 in Breakfast

5.00 Mitt(s) 2 Rating(s) 2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5

Description

This is the easiest fail proof crepe batter recipe. If you can remember 1-2-3 then you can remember this recipe!

Ingredients

1 cup All-purpose Flour
2 cups Milk
3 whole Eggs
1 Tablespoon Sugar (optional)
1 pinch Salt

Preparation Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend with a hand beater, until a smooth liquid batter is created.

This batter is best if refrigerated 30 minutes or longer in order for the flour to absorb the liquid. Remember to stir well after it has rested in the refrigerator.

Once you are ready to prepare the crepes, simply pour a ladle full of batter into your pan and swirl around creating a paper thin crepe. Cook over medium heat and when you notice the sides turn golden brown it’s time to flip your crepe. Flip and cook until the other side is browned. Cooking time is very fast.

I use a cast iron skillet to make my crepes. I oil it lightly first and then use the back of my ladle to smooth the batter around the bottom of the pan. You can use a non stick pan if you prefer.

I add about a Tablespoon of sugar and a pinch of salt to make my crepes sweet. Or you can add only a pinch of salt and use them for savory crepes.

Fill your crepes with jam, Nutella, fresh fruit, sautéed fruit, chicken, spinach or what ever your palate is craving! Remember this recipe is as easy as 1-2-3, enjoy!!!

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There’s so much to say about Georgia, we don’t know where to start. Leaving Wall Street for the French Culinary Institute, followed by a stint at the Gramercy Tavern and La Chassagnette in France, her passion for food and food traditions are evident and inspiring. Visit her site at Georgia Pellegrini, where you’ll find more recipes, photos, learn all about her wonderful books Girl Hunter and Food Heroes, and enjoy her latest adventures.

Oct 15 2012

Avocado and Cilantro Dressing

Posted by georgiapellegrini in Step-by-Step Recipes

This Avocado and Cilantro Dressing from TK member Guilty Kitchen is light and fluffy and so versatile. And the dressing can be used for so many purposes. I could also just eat it by the spoonful. That’s enough of a purpose for me! What is also nice is that it stores well for several days because of all of the acid in the ingredients and it holds its color very well.

To make it you will need: avocado, cilantro, lemon, lime, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and garlic.

Start by cutting open your avocados.

Scoop out the flesh with a big spoon and drop it all in your blender.

Next add your washed cilantro leaves. Squeeze in some lemon juice too.

Drop in your garlic cloves. Mmm, garlic. It gets better with time in this dressing as it sits and the flavors develop.

Drizzle in some olive oil.

And the vinegar! Red wine…

And then white or red balsamic. White will be a little sweeter and keep the color lighter.

Blend it all together well until it is uniform in texture.

It will be thick, almost like a dip. You can continue to thin it out by adding a dash of water if you’d like. But the thick and fluffy texture is one of its best parts.

This recipe could also be more than a dressing; it could be a fabulous dip for crudites or you can fold it into a pasta salad. It is tangy and fluffy and light and it gets better as the flavors sit and meld together.

Thanks to Elizabeth for this intoxicating recipe! Visit her blog Guilty Kitchen for more delicious recipes from her Canadian kitchen.

Printable Recipe