I had my first crepe when I was 14. My oldest sister brought me to Paris on a very low budget. For breakfast we shared a baguette that you could buy for under 50 cents on the street. You could buy them fresh 5 times a day…the bread was amazing. For lunch I could either eat a gelato or a nutella crepe. Dinner was the only proper meal we had for the day.
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| Me in Paris 1979 |
This food rationing enabled my sister to buy a silk dress and get a facial in a top salon… I was allowed to buy a pocketbook and was reminded that it was very nice of my sister to take me on the trip
Just like Dorie describes, crepes are a fast food found all over Paris. I love the French idea of fast food (unfortunately, McDonalds has been making in roads).
Now that I've cooked, (well my daughter cooked) crepes at home I can see why they are so prevalent; super quick and easy to make, and you can fill them with something savory or sweet.
We made our crepe batter with Grand Marnier and skipped the dark rum at my daughter's request. Thought if I plan on serving crepes with ice cream I am going to opt for rum flavored.
The Grand Marnier, lemon, and orange zest gave the crepes a complex citrus flavor that was just a little sweet. We stuffed ours with lemon curd and strawberries, and I had to try one with Nutella for old times sake.
Another French myth busted.
Crepes are not hard to make. You don't need a crepe pan, I used a regular 10 inch nonstick skillet, just flip the crepes with your fingers and they won't fold up on you. Nothing difficult about this, and such a super versatile treat.
Here is a Crepe Suzette Recipe that is very similar to Dorie's recipe… but if you want the real deal you know you need to get a copy of, "Around My French Table."
Note: As a member of French Friday's with Dorie I am not allowed to print the recipe. I invite you to take a look at this wonderful cookbook "Around My French Table" if you are interested in this or any other recipe I review.
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| Click here to see how the other Dorista's did. |
This post is shared on the following food/craft parties:
Organizing/Healthy Recipes/Inspiration:
Random Recipe Round-up @ My Mixing Spoon (Sunday)
Meal Plan Monday Organizing Junkie
Mix it Up Monday @ Flour Me With Love's
Tuesday Food:
Hearth & Soul Blog Hop @ 21st Century Housewife
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More
Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen
Tasty Tuesday #Anyonita Nibbles
Share your Stuff Tuesday @ Table for Seven
Wednesday Food:
From Dream to Reality @ DYI Dreamer
Wednesday Whatsit @White Lights on Wednesday
Fresh Foods Wednesdays @ Gastronomical Sovereignty
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Look What I Made @ Creations by Kara
Thursday Food:
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity
Friday Food:
Foodie Friday @ Home Maid Simple
Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home
Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club
Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie
Freedom Fridays @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Inspiration Spotlight @ Dear Creatives
Hearth & Soul Blog Hop @ 21st Century Housewife
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More
Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen
Tasty Tuesday #Anyonita Nibbles
Share your Stuff Tuesday @ Table for Seven
Wednesday Food:
From Dream to Reality @ DYI Dreamer
Wednesday Whatsit @White Lights on Wednesday
Fresh Foods Wednesdays @ Gastronomical Sovereignty
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Look What I Made @ Creations by Kara
Thursday Food:
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity
Friday Food:
Foodie Friday @ Home Maid Simple
Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home
Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club
Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie
Freedom Fridays @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Inspiration Spotlight @ Dear Creatives
These crepes are mouth-watering!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Winnie… they were amazing. Because they are so light you can keep eating them and eating them.
DeleteYour crepes look beautiful. We enjoyed them too.. I however found the first few difficult to flip .. they were so delicate !
ReplyDeleteWe took Dorie's advice and flipped them with our fingers. It worked very well.
DeleteI'm glad I was already planning on making these tonight. You've made me very hungry for crepes! I love the story about your first trip to Paris.
ReplyDeleteBe very hungry...you are going to want to eat many crepes...
DeleteLove this story and recipe! Traveling to Europe was so easy back in days... but one thing still remains so true till this day, the French cuisine is still marveled by everyone around the world. I love the lemon curd and strawberry filling- sounds amazing! I have never made crepes before, but you have inspired me to try. Thanks Diane!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Anna and Liz. Yes, travel was a lot more fun before you had to take your shoes off. Please, please do try making crepes it's truly not hard. Flip them with your fingers and it's simple.
DeleteWhat a fun Paris memory with your sister! Thanks for busting the crepe pan myth! ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't think my sister has seen the post yet, I haven't gotten an email from her. I suspect that her memory of things is different LOL.
DeleteYes, the myth is busted, now go make some crepes!
I do think a crepe pan makes things easier... LOVE the flashback pic from Paris!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure a crepe pan makes it easier, but I doubt I'm make them often enough to invest in a unitask item. Thanks going to Paris in my teens made a big impression on me.
DeleteOh I just loved that story about your trip with your sister. So funny and so true what we ration our funds for :) Great photo too - impressed you could find a non digital so quickly. I am not sure I would count myself as a crepe expert quite yet but I too managed on a non stick pan and it was not the failure I feared it would be. Yes, I definitely need to have more crepes in my life......
ReplyDeleteThanks Tricia,
DeleteI have a box in the attic with all my photo books. I've always been a scrap book maker so I have a lot of photos on hand. Yes, crepes... we all need more crepes in our life.
I really enjoyed the story of your trip to Paris…when you’re young anything goes…and we’re better for it! Again, your daughter has totally impressed me with her crepes! They look beautiful! Great job! We loved these! Happy Friday, Diane!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter got practice at school before hand. In her French class they made crepes for crepe making French holiday La Chandeleur on Feb 2nd... leave it to the French to have a holiday that you make crepes.
DeleteEnjoyed your post and your crepes are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYours look yummy! I didn't use a crepe pan too and it turned out ok! ;)
ReplyDeleteUnless you are going to make them often, I am not into investing into unitaskers.
DeleteThe crepes look fabulous, and love your story and photo too!
ReplyDeleteYour note about your daughter making them in school just reminded me that 3rd grade was when I first had them - in school, for a French Canadian lesson (in Michigan). I guess crepes bring back memories! Well done!
Yes, the crepe holiday is celebrated in Canada too.. that's probably why you had them. Food is such a great way to teach kids about cultures.
DeleteLoved the story of your first trip to Paris. Do you still have that pocketbook? I used my fingers to flip these too. You used a much bigger pan than I did, and maybe that was my issue since many of mine did fold over on themselves when I flipped. I'll retry with a bigger pan since these are definitely delicious. They look much more difficult than they actually are.
ReplyDeleteI kept the pocketbook for a long time and I still remember what it looked like. It was Italian leather very soft, buttery. Good luck with a larger pan I think it will be much easier the next time around.
DeleteDiane, fun story and very pretty looking crêpes - your daughter seeme to be very talented in the kitchen! I agree with you about the pan - a non-stick pan works great with this recipe!
ReplyDeleteYes, I guess you just have to use a large nonstick pan. I didn't even think about the size, but I guess it's best to give crepes a lot of space.
DeleteI love the strawberries in the crepe!!! and you look gorgeous in that photo. Paris in the 70's fun and wonderful!
ReplyDeleteParis in the 70's probably the only place on the planet that wasn't badly dressed at the time.
DeleteGreat Paris photo! Your crepes turned out great. I didn't have a special crepe pan either.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
DeleteI'm hearing that you can use the crepe pan for omlettes and other egg things, but I still don't think I'm going to invest in one.
Beautiful job on the crepes. Paris is a wonderful place to go. My first trip was in the 70's also.
ReplyDeleteIt is such a different city now. I was there a few years ago and the vibe just keeps changing. I really hate the big black building. The skyline is not changing for the better.
DeleteHysterical (and, very clever) Post, Diane. But, I am confused. That babe in the 1979 picture is not you at 14, is it? (It's late and I don't want to do the math.) I must agree with your sister, you were lucky to be included. And, FYI,I didn't even know what a facial was until I was 50 years old. Another thing, I am not going to compliment you on the fabulous looking crepes. You didn't make them. So, to your daughter, another job well done for Mom. XOXOX
ReplyDeleteI was 14 in the picture, the summer before I turned 15 in the Fall. My sister did beauty pagents and I did modeling. I can't remember when I didn't know about a facial. Yes, you are right the compliments go to my daughter. But I did flip and supervise.
DeleteThese were so much easier than I thought it would be. Yours are lovely with those strawberries.
ReplyDeleteIt seems folks did have trouble with them. We are big pancake makers so maybe we were more experience than we thought, I thought they were easy too.
DeleteA porter in Paris --- a great memory you'll have forever :-) These were delicate crepes but using my hand to flip them did the trick to be sure they didn't break. Loved the citrus flavor.
ReplyDeleteThe porter part I would prefer to forget. I had blisters on my hands. Glad the finger trick worked for you too.
DeleteGreat story! So nice, too, that your daughter participates in French Fridays assignments with you. Her crêpes turned out perfectly!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, if only fast food the American way was half as delightful!
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty nice sister! Crepes were easy for me until I bought a crepe pan! Now I can't decide if I should worry over it or toss it! Yours look delicious Diane.
ReplyDeleteDonate it. I hate unitaskers all they do is clutter up my kitchen.
DeleteThose look delicious with the strawberries!
ReplyDeletethese look so good...I love crepes
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post and personal. The crepe recipe is the bonus! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour Butter Rum Crepe looks melt in your mouth delicious. I will be making these for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
I just love Crepes, your Butter and Rum recipe looks fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteCome Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Sounds wonderful!!! Found your site from Hungry Harps. Looking forward to following along here, beautiful site!! Angela ~ LeMoine Family Kitchen {http:://lemoinefamilykitchen.com}
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining us.
DeleteHappy Friday! I just wanted to let you know your delish recipe is one of my featured favorites from last week's #GetHimFed Party! You're welcome to come grab a featured button and join the party again. Congrats! :)
ReplyDelete{TheBakingFairy.net}
Thanks so much for featuring these crepes. They are truly the best I ever had.
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