Ina Garten Crepe Recipes

CREPES WITH SEAFOOD FILLING AND LOBSTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the crepes: In a bowl place the flour, whisk in the milk and water, a little at a time. Mix in the eggs, the salt and butter and continue to whisk until smooth. Let stand, covered, 30 minutes. Heat a crepe pan over moderate heat until very hot, brush with melted butter. Add 1/4 cup of batter to center of pan. Tilt pan in all directions, pouring out excess batter into bowl. Cook 30 seconds, or until golden brown. Turn and cook 20 to 30 seconds more. Invert crepe onto plate. Continue to make crepes in the same manner.
• Make the filling: In a skillet, set over moderate heat, melt the butter and cook the shallots until softened. Add the shellfish and cook for 2 minutes. Add the wine and Madeira, simmer, covered, 1 minute. Uncover, increase heat to high and reduce until all the liquid has been evaporated. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in chives.
• Make the white sauce: In a saucepan set over moderately low heat, melt the butter, add the flour and cook, whisking, for 2 minutes. Add the hot milk and salt and pepper to taste, whisking. Bring the liquid to a boil, whisking, and simmer 1 minute. In a small bowl combine the egg yolk and cream. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the yolk mixture. Return to heat and cook, stirring, until very thick. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Fold in shellfish and cheese.
• Make the lobster sauce: In a saucepan set over moderately low heat melt the butter, add the flour and cook, whisking, for 2 minutes. Add the hot lobster stock and salt and pepper to taste, whisking. Bring the liquid to a boil, whisking, and simmer until slightly thickened. Add heavy cream and 3 tablespoons of the lobster butter and simmer, whisking occasionally, for one hour. Whisk in remaining lobster butter.
• To assemble the crepes: Arrange crepe, browned-side down, on counter. Place 1/2 cup filling in center. Fold 2 sides of crepe over mixture so that they meet in the center. Fold top and bottom sides of crepe over so that they meet in the center. Turn crepe over and transfer to a buttered flameproof baking dish. Prepare remaining crepes in the same manner. Cover the crepes with some of the lobster sauce and sprinkle with grated Swiss cheese. Put under a preheated broiler 1 to 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
• Remove meat from the lobster, and reserve. Add shells to the hot lobster stock or fish broth, and simmer for 1 hour. Remove shells, and chop into small pieces. Add shells to food processor work bowl (or blender) and add butter. Pulse 5 to 6 times. Return mixture to saucepan and melt butter again. Strain carefully and reserve lobster butter.

CREPE BATTER RECIPE

Steps:

• In a blender, combine all the ingredients except for the cooking oil and blend for 1 minute on high. Refrigerate the batter for 2 hours.
• Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the skillet with oil and place over medium-high heat. When the pan is just beginning to smoke, remove from heat, and pour 1/4 cup of the batter in the middle of the pan and quickly tilt in all directions for 2 or 3 seconds to evenly distribute the batter. Return the pan to the heat and when slightly brown on the underside, turn the crepe with a spatula onto the other side and cook for a few seconds. Remove from pan. Repeat with remaining batter.

CREPES AND HOT CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt, and set aside. In a small saucepan, warm the milk over low heat. Add the warmed milk and butter to the flour mixture, followed by the eggs and the rum. Use an immersion blender to mix the batter until thoroughly combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or in the refrigerator overnight.
• To make the crepes, spray an 8-inch saute pan with grapeseed oil spray, wipe it clean, and turn the heat to high. (You'll know the pan is ready when it just begins to smoke.) Using a 2-ounce ladle, ladle out crepe batter into the hot pan and tilt the pan to spread the batter into an even circle. After 45 seconds, when the top is dry, flip the crepe over and cook on the other side for 20 seconds, until it just starts to brown at the edges. Fold the crepe in half and transfer it to a sheet pan lined with foil. Repeat this process with the remaining crepe batter.
• Place one crepe on a plate and top with Hot Chocolate Sauce. Fold the sides over and repeat with another crepe on the same plate (you will have two crepes for each serving.) Repeat with the remaining crepes and serve.
• Place the chocolate in a large bowl and set aside. Combine the water, sugar, cocoa powder, and cream in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate, setting the saucepan aside, and whisk until smooth. Pour the chocolate sauce into a sieve set over the reserved saucepan and keep warm until ready to use.

SAVORY CREPES

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, eggs, 1/2 cup milk, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Continue whisking until you have a smooth batter. Add the remaining cup of milk and stir well to combine. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill the batter for at least 30 minutes or several hours.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Just before you are ready to make the crepes, whisk in the melted butter. The batter should be the consistency of heavy cream; if it is too thick, add milk slowly while whisking constantly until it is the right texture.
• Heat a 9-inch non-stick skillet or crepe pan over medium heat. Melt a teaspoon of butter in the pan or spray with vegetable spray and heat the pan until a drop of water "dances" across the surface.
• Using a ladle or a measuring cup with a lip, pour about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the batter into the pan. Hold the pan with 1 hand and pour the batter in with the other. Swirl the pan while pouring so that the batter covers the pan thinly and evenly for each crepe. Pour off any excess batter. Try not to leave any holes. After the first few crepes you will know exactly how much batter your pan will hold.
• Cook the crepe over medium-high heat until the edges turn brown, about 15 seconds. Flip the crepe using a small spatula and your fingers. Cook on the second side for another 10 to 15 seconds. The second side will not be as evenly browned as the first side. Remove the pan from the heat and invert it over a warm plate to stack the crepes. Keep warm until ready to use. Continue making crepes with remaining batter, adjusting the heat as needed.
• If not using immediately, place a square of waxed paper between each 1, place in a resealable plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. Crepes can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for several months. Reheat uncovered in a low oven (250 degrees) for 15 minutes or until warm. Fill with your favorite filling.