Cookbook Challenge: Week 28, Breakfast
Recipe: Crepes
From: Stephanie Alexander’s The Cook’s Companion
The theme for this week’s Cookbook Challenge is breakfast – fortunately a much easier theme than last week’s! The only problem with the theme this week were all the options – I had visions of omelettes, baked eggs, pancakes, French toast and bacon circulating in my head.
But then I got up this morning and went to the kitchen and suddenly – Crepes! I want to make crepes! As you do.
The best thing about crepes is how quick they are to put together and how quickly they cook. The bad thing about crepes is that I’m not very good at making them. Mine always end up rather thicker than the thin, lacy ones I imagine should come out of the frying pan. The recipe for crepes in The Cook’s Companion says “you will get better – and so will the pancakes!” but I don’t think this applies to me. I keep trying though.
Whenever I make pancakes or crepes for breakfast, I always like to serve it with fruit – it makes me feel better about eating something that’s not terribly healthy! So today I stewed a couple of pears in a raspberry sauce to go with the crepes. We keep receiving masses of pears in our fortnightly fruit and vegetable delivery but I’m not a huge fan of pears. I really only like fresh pears when they are still crunchy, but the bloody things ripen so quickly. Fortunately, I don’t mind cooked pears so poaching them is one way I deal with them.
The stewed pears and raspberry sauce is super easy – I cut a couple of peeled pears in half (removing the core), and put them in a small pot with a literal splash of water and a couple of teaspoons of sugar. Into the pot went a handful of frozen raspberries, and then I put the lid on and let it cook until the pears were soft. After that, I removed the pears and simmered the leftover liquid without a lid to reduce and thicken it. When the sauce was nice and thick, I stirred in a small knob of butter, and it was ready.
If you don’t like crepes (wtf) there are other pancake/waffle/crepe posts here.
See previous Cookbook Challenge posts here.
Update: see the round up at My Food Trail.
Crepes
From Stephanie Alexander’s The Cook’s Companion
Makes about 8-10 crepes
30g butter
pinch of salt
1 & 1/2 cups of milk
150g plain flour
2 eggs
Warm the butter, salt and milk until the butter has melted.
In a separate bowl, sift in the flour, and then make a well in the middle. Break the eggs into the well and work in some flour.
Add the warm milk and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cooking. Add more milk if the batter seems too thick.
Heat a frying pan over medium-low heat. Wipe the pan with a piece of buttered paper for the first pancake. Lift the pan from the heat, add in a ladle of batter and swirl the pan so the batter spreads to the edges.
Put the pan back on the heat and cook for a minute. Lift the thin outer edge of the crepe with a spatula and flip to cook the other side for another minute. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
Hannah
May 30, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
Completely with you on the pears! I only like them when they're rock-hard, and they go mushy and grainy so quickly.
Must also congratulate you for making crepes look appealing. I'm not a crepe person at all, and have in fact berated my father on occasion for ordering crepes for dessert ("why do you want flour and eggs for dessert? Why? Why not the cheesecake?") which admittedly is because I always want him to order something I like so I can steal it.
Where was I? A huge digression?
Long story short, those pears and raspberries look yummy enough to even make the crepes appeal. That was where I was. π
bri
May 30, 2010 @ 10:16 pm
"If you don't like crepes (wtf)"
classic π
Great job – they look delicous!
Foodessa
May 30, 2010 @ 10:48 pm
Hello Agnes…boy I'm on the ball this morning. Taking some time to look around…and your post came in on crepes no less. Coincidently, I'll be making mine within the next few hours for a savoury type recipe.
I really enjoy reading about your challenges. I have maybe one tiny suggestion to make the crepes a little lighter in texture…divide the liquid into half water to milk ratio. I've found it works best.
BTW…my hubby is now better at making crepes than I am…go figure. Now, he thinks a little too highly of himself ;o)
Thanks for sharing your experience and have a great Sunday.
Flavourful wishes.
mademoiselle dΓ©licieuse
May 30, 2010 @ 11:26 pm
I've always liked my pears soft when everyone else in the family likes them crunchy *shrug* But I do like the look of your crepes – not thick or rubbery at all!
imasugarjunkie
May 31, 2010 @ 10:06 am
oh this looks yummy! I love crepes – but I can never get them thin enough!
Chanel11
May 31, 2010 @ 2:21 pm
I tend to but too many pears to eat before they become soft, so thanks for another great recipe to use them up π
Ange
May 31, 2010 @ 6:42 pm
Mmmmm, these look fabulous, I am a pancake addict (in any form) from way back, wish i had some right now
Agnes
June 1, 2010 @ 10:37 pm
Hannah: YOU DON'T LIKE CREPES?!? Right, we can no longer be friends! π
Bri: hehee, exactly, what isn't there to like about crepes?
Foodessa: thanks for the tip! Hope your savoury ones were delicious π
mademoiselle: I guess it works out well if you like soft pears and your family like crunchy ones!
imasugarjunkie: Yep, I can't really get my thin either! Oh well, they're still yum π
Chanel: don't pears go soft so quickly?! When I buy them, I always buy too many as well!
Ange: Pancakes are the shiz!
Hannah
June 1, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Don't say that! I'll wrap myself in crepes and wear them non-stop for a week if it means we can still have slumber parties and paint each others' nails hot pink!
Conor @ Hold the Beef
June 1, 2010 @ 10:45 pm
Your crepes actually look perfect. The first sign of their goodness is that they are thin enough to fold π
No to crunchy pears though! I hate feeling up a pear, deciding it is soft enough for me, then biting into it and getting surprise crunch. Some may say it's my own fault for feeling it up.
Agnes
June 1, 2010 @ 11:04 pm
Hannah: Oh okay! But only if we can stay up late and gossip about boys! I won't even make you eat crepes (but you still have to wear them for a week!)
Conor: Oh, you're one of those fruit feelerupers…. tsk tsk tsk.
Hannah
June 1, 2010 @ 11:08 pm
Ewwwwww, cooties!!!! (I'll wear the crepes for a week so long as this doesn't take place in summer. Because then, you know, flies + maple syrup = me actually going insane.) (And maybe I should stop hijacking your comments page now :P)
Juliana
June 2, 2010 @ 12:00 pm
Oh! I haven't made crepes like forever…yours look so delicate…you just inspired me to do so π
Agnes
June 4, 2010 @ 11:15 pm
Hannah: you are always welcome to hijack my comments page! If you're going to go "ewwww" over boy cooties, should we watch Hannah Montana and do makeovers instead?
Juliana: I foresee crepes in your future! π Hopefully you get an opportunity to make some soon.
Hannah
June 5, 2010 @ 4:05 pm
I can almost SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE it, that dream I'm DREEEEEEEEEEAMING! (But there's a voice inside my head sayin' "You'll never REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEACH it".)
chitchatchomp@yahoo.com.au
June 6, 2010 @ 10:20 am
It's pouring down with rain outside and all I want is those crepes. They look delicious.
Agnes
June 6, 2010 @ 9:15 pm
Hannah: is that from Hannah Montana? How do you even know that song?! Unless… omg…. do you own a blonde wig??
Leigh: the weather has been icky today, hasn't it? Hope you stayed cozy and dry and got to eat crepes! π
Hannah
June 6, 2010 @ 9:48 pm
I've also been known to pose naked wrapped in flimsy sheets. Make of that what you will…
Maria@TheGourmetChallenge
June 8, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
this looks super easy, and the resulting breakfast just looks amazing!
Agnes
June 8, 2010 @ 8:37 pm
Hannah: Pose? Naked? You're either a nudist, a life model or GASP you're Miley Cyrus!
Maria: super duper easy! A good weekend brekkie!