Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to be in the kitchen.  My mom would cook & bake, and I’d be sure to be there – not necessarily lending an orderly & clean helping hand – but definitely picking up some great tips!  Weekends always involved crepes; an easy and tummy-filling breakfast for four hungry kids with rather different tastes.  The magic comes by keeping them simple, loading them up, and setting the table with all the add-ons available in your pantry.  Everyone will be happy!  And part of the fun is letting the kids make their own.

For the Batter

• 1-1/2 cups (190g) of all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 3 cups (720ml) of milk
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Unlike cakes or pancakes, this batter can be prepared fuss-free in the blender – which is great & easy!  Just pour the ingredients into the blender and give it a whirl until the batter looks uniform.  Crepes are a lot thinner than pancakes, so the batter will seem very liquidy at first.  Don’t fret, it’s all part of the game!

I like to use a large skillet, set to medium-low heat.  Heat will become your friend or your enemy.  Be sure to respect it, I sure learned to!  Crepes work well with medium-low heat.  Set it too high and the sugar will brown too quickly; set it too low and they’ll come out pale and sad.  My mom loves to use her beloved cast-iron skillet, she swears by it!  I can’t wait to get my hands on my own!  She actually had to use two at a time…hungry kids have very little patience.  Batter up!  Add a little butter to the pan and pour 1/3 cup of batter – an amount that works well for my 7-1/2 inch (19cm) crepes.  Immediately tilt and rotate the skillet, in order for a thin layer of batter to form evenly throughout it.  Pancakes don’t require any spreading, but the art of crepes is a beautiful & learned one, so just remember to be patient because practice makes perfect!

Flip the crepe over once bottom side is golden brown.  Remove from heat and stack on a lovely centerpiece plate (or two) where everyone will  be able to grab away!  We love to set jams, honey, syrup, crème fraîche, lots of fruit, hams…well, set just about anything!  Crepes are so versatile you can prepare your own however you wish!  Bon Appétit!