don’t you think crepes are fancy?
no? just me?
maybe it is because i grew up eating pancakes, french toast and waffles—but never crepes. i have only eaten crepes at restaurants and have never, ever made them (or had them made for me) at home.
marshall always orders crepes for breakfast if they are on the menu. he is constantly asking me to make him crepes. i keep putting it off because, well, they intimidate me!
my blog-reader-friend mcintosh sent me a crepe recipe ages ago and i filed it in the “recipes to make” folder of my email (along with 1,542 others) and actually kind of forgot about it.
until today.
this morning, marshall asked me to make him crepes. my mother-in-law had given me a special crepe making pan, i knew i had all the ingredients from mcintosh’s recipe on hand and i had a whole morning to kill.
i agreed to make him crepes.
the recipe looked like it made quite a bit of batter, so i reduced it to 1/3 of the original.
classic crepes (from mcintosh):
- 1 cage free, organic egg
- 1 TB organic evaporated cane juice
- 1/3 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup + 2 TB 2% milk
- 1/3 cup + 1 TB organic all purpose flour
- 1 TB vegetable oil
directions:
combine egg, sweetener & salt in a bowl. add milk, mix well. add flour, mix well. add oil, mix well. let stand 10-15 minutes before cooking crepes. heat a skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. pour 1/4 cup batter into skillet and cook each side until golden (~2 minutes each side.)
while the batter sat, i prepped the filling and toppings.
fresh farmers market peaches + raspberries for the filling.
fresh vanilla bean whipped cream for the topping.
i plugged in the crepe maker and was ready to go!
turns out, the super awesome crepe maker that my MIL gave me didn’t work! it wouldn’t heat up. i was so bummed.. and kind of nervous that my crepes weren’t going to turn out if i had to use a skillet.
the batter was already made and i was committed, so i pressed on.
turns out, cooking crepes is pretty easy. they seem a lot fancier than they really are! i followed the directions above and (after only botching one crepe) i ended up with eight superthin crepes! (good thing i reduced the recipe!)
i filled them with the fruit and rolled them up—using my enchilada rolling skills, naturally.
then topped them with the fresh whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon.
fancy, shmancy.
these were delicious! thanks to mcintosh for the awesome recipe. i am really happy with my new crepe-making abilities. marshall is, too. i can’t wait to experiment with different combos—both sweet and savory.
Qs~
1. what item/dish are you intimidated to make yourself?
2. do you like crepes? do you prefer sweet or savory crepes?
Next Comments →
For some crazy reason, all Indian food intimidates me. I’ve only had crepes once. It was for a fundraising event we did for a ballet company. I was surprised that I liked them actually b/c I don’t really like eggs.
Yes, crepes intimidate me! Maybe not anymore since it looks like you had a good time with them? I’ve only ever had savory crepes, your breakfast crepes look delicious!
Hey! We almost have the same name :D
I make crepes often … I do both versions, but in my household Crepes with Nutella are it …
I made two versions here:(http://semplicementej.blogspot.com/2011/08/and-weekend-rolls-to-end.html)
… ham and cheese … just because I wanted to use leftover ham I had … and the Nutella crepes … well, that version was planned all along.
Thanks for the link!
I have never tried any indian food, or crepes for that matter. So, I’d say BOTH of those intimidate me. I may try my Hand at making some though! Your’s look awesome!
Crepes are delicious! I love how versatile they are as well :)
I have yet to make pasta! I want to try making gnocchi and ravioli. Yesss…. ravioli. I also want to make a roulade of some sort. I think they are so neat looking, and reminds me of my childhood.
XOXO, hope you have a wonderful rest of your Sunday, love :)
I want to try gnocchi, too!
The one time I had crepes, the dough had no flavor and the filling was hard as a rock, in addition to them being cold. They were at a wedding, and hardly anyone ate them. It was so disgusting. I really want to try your recipe to see if my experience is any better.
Gorgeous crepes! I make a version of unsweetened crepes that we use in soup!
I’m really intimidated by curries. Love them but don’t know how to use them!
SWEET crepes! With chocolate!!! Mmmm :)
I am super intimidated by omelettes. I don’t know why, but they fuhhhreak me out, I feel like I mess them up every time!
I’ve honestly never had crepes either. They remind me of the Seinfeld episode where the Dominicans rolled the crepes too tight. Please tell me you know the one?
I am definitely intimidated to make crepes. Ever since I traveled to France I don’t think I could ever make one that compares to them. But your crepes look absolutely amazing! I’m not so intimidated anymore. Thanks for the recipe.
Ive never had one!! They look totally amazing. I want the entire bowl of whipped cream. Soufles scare me
nice work! i have never made crepes and they are definitely on my feared-to-attempt-at-home list. also on there would be any baked good made with a stand mixer, poached eggs and a multi-tiered cake. scary stuff.
i am all about the sweet crepe. i’ll take berries and whipped cream, please.
happy sunday, miss janetha :)
no dude, you didn’t botch anything! Every swede worth their weight in cardamom knows that the first one is ALWAYS trashes- that’s a given and written in the viking lawbooks somewhere. And fancy that- you used a regular pan! Ironically I have a huge crepemaker (that I’ve used precisely once) that a girlfriend regifted to me-a wedding gift she was smart enough to realize she’d never use.
I’m intimidated by souffles!!
Deb, did she TELL you she regifted it to you?!
Lara- oh yes!! She was moving to Portland and said she was gonna give away the crepemaker and she offered it to me. So technically it wasn’t a ‘gift’ but a hand-me-down- I’m sure it cost a bundle- shame it’s never used! :-(
OH, ok ;) I imagined she wrapped it up and gave it to you for your birthday or something…then announced that it was a re-gift ;)
Ohmigosh, you are a rock star! I used to make the crepes out of EFL all of the time, but man, they were pretty rubbery. Yours look gorgeous. I should have expected nothing less.
I’m intimidated by anything that involves yeast! Pizza dough I’ve made a few times, but that’s it. I’m scared to death to make homemade bread.
ditto.
Good point, I NEED to make crepes, they are fancy in my eyes too ;)
Those look so delicious! :) Crepes intimidate me too along with omelettes! The only crepes I have ever tried were a sweet version that were kind of like strawberry shortcake with the toppings. I was really little so I can’t remember exactly what was in it but it was delish! :)
Hey…so glad you finally had a chance to make them and did them “Old World Style” in a skillet. Kudos!
Well as you know I grew up on crepes (never had those fluffy pancakes or waffles until my first real sleepover). Still prefer crepes even now.
Oh and thanks for giving me credit but really the recipe is pretty standard and I got them from my mom and sister who actually cook unlike me.
Yours look perfect. I loved mine with Karo syrup (not that Aunt Jemima stuff) or some preserves. Never got used to the savory kind though. Probably good with cottage or feta cheese or yogurt for some protein.
Oh and you can get amazing ones with melted chocolate on the street in Paris…now that’s fancy!
I think I have to go with savory crepes. I had some at a French restaurant once with goat cheese and asparagus, it was insane.
Also I love crepes bc it reminds me of the scene in Talladega Nights when he threatens to break Ricky Bobbys arm if he doesn’t say he loves crepes. Classic.
And I’m afraid to make eggs benedict. I know I will screw up that sauce. I just know it.
My husband introduced me to crepes, and (I may be biased) they are the best in the world! Every time he has made them for any of my friends, they have just about died. He makes his with Nutella and strawberry jam, and Nutella, crushed walnuts and sugar. Heaven!
We had crepes for dinner many times in the first three months of our relationship. Needless to say, a competition diet doesn’t lead itself to eating a lot of these – I haven’t had crepes for almost a year!
Having had my husband’s delicious sweet crepes, I don’t think I would even bother to try the savoury version! As for things that intimidate me to cook, it would have to be risotto – too complicated!
I totally always thought crepes were intimidating to make!! Fancy Schmancy :)
oo yum! i love crepes!! i make crepes all the time at work haha…i love ’em sweet and savory!
come cook for me. I will pay you. :)
Love crepes. I’ve never made them though, I’ve only ever had them from carts in Europe, and really, really delicious savory crepes in Hong Kong at a fancy pub. They were filled with brie and roasted veggies like asparagus and came with salad and the best fries ever & garlic mayo (not sure if you ever ate garlic mayo when you lived in England, but it’s amazinggggg)
Crepes are something I never make.
As are beans from scratch.
And I also am horrible with eggplant, too mushy, too watery, underdone, overdone, you name it, I am awful at it.
Your crepes look amazing! :)
Yes! Eggplant! impossible.
those crepes look fabulous! I always pass them in France at Disney World (haha real authentic, right) and the chocolate ones look amazing and I still havent had one! I am afriad to tackle a souffle…they look so pretty when they are done correctly but the deflated ones…not so much. Hope you had a nice weekend :-)
Mmm I was *very* intimidated by crepes until last year, when I accidentally made one. It happened while I was attempting to make coconut flour pancakes. I didn’t use enough coconut flour, leaving the batter very thin. When I poured it into the pan it naturally spread over the entire surface. I ended up with a giant super thin pancake! It wasn’t until my mom said, “wow, I’ve never seen you make crepes before!” that I realized what I’d done. :) Super thin pancake = crepe. Crepe = super thin pancake. Easy peasy!
Marshall is one lucky man to have you making him fancy shmancy breakfasts! Next time I have crepes, I’m going to top them with whipped cream. Yum. :)
NICE work, Janetha! I’m impressed…and am DEFINITELY intimidated by crepes. These look tasty:)
Fancy, indeed! I don’t think I’ve ever even tasted a crepe, let alone make one. I am impressed!
I have never attempted a crepe but after looking at your pictures I really need to. I forgot how much I enjoy eating them.
Those crepes are bomb! I’ve never made them before but perhaps I should try it out one of these days? Sweet crepes all the way! I tried savory once and it was pretty nasty.
I looove crepes! They are fancy schmancy and make me feel kinda like a princess, oh wait…that’s my dog. Queen? Does queen work?
Yeast totally intimidates, nee, TERRIFIES me! I so badly want to make ooey gooey cinnamon rolls, or big beautiful bread loaves, but the sitting and the kneading seems a lil too intense for my kitchen :\
Funny – I grew up with FOB (from Europe) rents, and grew up thinking that what we here call crepes were pancakes. I’ve actually NEVER had ACTUAL pancakes and have only ever had crepes!! As a result, I <3 crepes.
izzy
My bro in law in swedish and makes the BEST swedish pancakes, of course. I tried making them myself once and it was abysmal. I’m most scared of things that are very delicate like souffles. Too much risk! Your crepes are making my mouth water! I’d love to see that pan in action… I’m going to need to youtube this device…
I love crepes! Especially buckwheat ones, and I’m torn between savoury and sweet- savoury ones with cheesy fillings and loads of vegetables and meat or eggs…yum! As for sweet I roll with the nutella banana :)
I’m almost intimidated of making everything…mostly meat dishes since my mother scared me with how easy it is to cross-contaminate
I’m not sure what looks more delicious, the crepes or the whip cream! Some clients of mine recently opened a crepery in Vancouver and their best creation is the maple, ham and cheese crepe. Holy mother, it is good!
I’m intimidated to try making Thai food. I love all the flavors and vibrant colors, but I just don’t think it would turn out quite like how it would in Thailand. I guess I should just be brave and try my hand and pad thai.
I think crepes are pretty and tasty, but they don’t fill me up nearly enough.
I recall going to france as a child with friends & family, the adults all ordered a savoury lunch while the children all had a white sweet crepe because we didn’t like the buckwheat flavour.
Try buckwheat flour crepes, fillings i’ve had include a fish mix (salmon, white fish & smoked haddock/cod) in a white sauce, or my mum’s fav mushroom & spinach in a cheese sauce.
As for things i’m too intimidated to make – most things, & certainly anything more than one serving! One of the most frustrating things about recovering from an eating disorder. I’m getting braver, trying an oatmeal bake/pancake this weekend but it didn’t quite turn out how i wanted, more experimentation needed. I am going to try a blackbean pudding recipe i found this week, which means 2 new ingredients, xanthan gum & black beans. I have a feeling its going to take me longer to get through my list of recipes to make than it will for you to do your list ;)
It’s the opposite for me – I grew up with crepes (my favourite food!), so ”American” pancakes seem fancy to me and nowadays I make these. I usually eat crepes with Nutella, but fruit combinations are delicious, too.
I only ate fried savory pancakes (filled with cheese and ham) a few times. Sweet is where it’s at! :D
I must make these for the hubby….. and fill them with cinnamon applesauce.
Apple crepes are my favorite. I love all crepes though.
great job on the crepes, j! what a fun sunday morning treat!
i am intimidated by anything that is more than three steps or requires constant attention. i am admiring your photographs – i don’t think my crepes would look like that!!!
These crepes look amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever had crepes before. I should most definitely change that because they look too good to pass up! :)
I get intimated by cooking steak for some reason. I always feel like I don’t know how to season it properly or cook it to everyone’s liking.
I am a total sweet crepe kind of gal! mmmm love them! I have made them with brown rice flour and chickpea flour, both came out great!
I am most intimidated by roasting whole chickens…..silly right?! I have YET to get it just right, it’s a work in progress or its probably just the fact that I am always to hard on myself in the kitchen!
i’ll leave the crepe making to you ;) i can barely make pancakes without burning them. lol
they look great! i’ve never made crepes – they scare me :)
Oh my gosh…that takes me right back to Paris, when I ate crepes twice a day, every day. MMMMMMmmmmmm…
I have read your blog for awhile but haven’t left a comment yet. After seeing your success with these crepes, I was wanting to ask, do you think you’re able to freeze crepes like you can with pancakes for making ahead? Possibly just leave them out for 20 minutes or so until they defrost? Or are they meant to be served warm?
Well they are meant to be served warm, but Marshall ate his cold since he came in the kitchen, like, 15 minutes after they were ready ;) I am not sure if they are freeze-able! It may change the texture. Although, it’s totally worth a shot!!
Hmm, I’ll have to try it. If I don’t/can’t freeze them it’d be great to be able to keep them in the fridge over night so it’d still be a “make ahead” breakfast. People do that with homemade tortillas, right? I’ll let you know if the texture changes.
wish me luck.
Good luck! Let me know!
WOW girl way to go, I am very impresses with your crepe skillz!! Now I need to give it a try :)
crepes are so cute and dainty! hope Marsh was pleased!! that vanilla bean whipped cream also looks insaneeeeeee.
LOVE YOU SO
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