Basic Crepe Recipe Martha Stewart

CLASSIC CREPES

Steps:

• Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together milk and eggs in a medium bowl. Pour milk mixture into flour mixture, whisking to combine. Whisk in butter. Strain mixture into a medium bowl, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 1 day). Batter should be the consistency of heavy cream; add more milk if needed.
• Heat an 8- or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, and brush with butter. Ladle or pour 3 tablespoons batter (for small crepes) or 1/3 cup batter (for large crepes) into pan, turning and tilting skillet to coat bottom evenly with batter. Cook until top of crepe appears set, bottom is firm and golden brown in spots, and center is lifted by pockets of air, about 1 minute.
• Run a spatula around edge of crepe to loosen. Slip spatula under crepe, and gently flip in one swift gesture. (If it doesn't land quite right, that's okay; use the spatula to unfold or rearrange it.) Cook until bottom is firm and golden brown in spots, about 45 seconds. Transfer to a plate, and cover. (The first one will not be your finest.) Repeat with remaining batter, brushing pan lightly with butter as needed (every 2 or 3 crepes). Serve immediately.

CHICKEN CREPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in center. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add garlic and cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add spinach and stir until wilted. Transfer to a work surface, chop, and set aside.
• Mix 3/4 cup bechamel with chicken. Working with one at a time, place crepe on a work surface. Arrange 1/4 cup chicken mixture and 1 heaping tablespoon spinach down center of crepe; roll into a cylinder. Transfer, seam-side down, to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; assemble and arrange more crepes, leaving 1/2 inch in between each. Spoon more bechamel on top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until bubbly, about 15 minutes. Switch oven to broiler setting and cook until browning in spots, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Sprinkle with parsley.

SIMPLE CREPES

Steps:

• In a blender, puree flour, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, and butter until smooth, about 30 seconds. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 1 day; stir for a few seconds before using.
• Heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium. Lightly coat with butter. Quickly pour 1/4 cup batter into center of skillet, tilting and swirling pan until batter evenly coats bottom. Cook until crepe is golden in places on bottom and edges begin to lift from pan, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Lift one edge of crepe with an offset spatula, then use your fingers to gently flip crepe. Cook on second side until just set and golden in places on bottom, about 45 seconds. Slide crepe onto a paper towel-lined plate.
• Repeat with remaining batter, coating pan with more butter as needed, and stacking crepes directly on top of one another. Let cool to room temperature before using, wrapping in plastic wrap and refrigerating up to 5 days, or freezing up to 1 month.

TRADITIONAL CREPES SUZETTE

Steps:

• Make batter: Whisk together milk, sugar, butter, eggs, and oil. Sift together flour and salt. Whisk milk mixture into flour mixture. Pour batter through a fine sieve into a large bowl. Whisk in beer. Refrigerate, covered, 6 hours (or overnight).
• Let batter stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Heat a crepe pan or a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour 1/4 cup batter into pan, swirling to cover bottom. Cook, flipping once, until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat.
• Make filling: Stir together butter, sugar, liqueur, and zest. Spread 2 teaspoons over 1 crepe. Roll up; place on a baking sheet, seam side down. Repeat.
• Make sauce: Bring juice and sugar to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; skim foam. Whisk together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water; add to pan. Whisk in liqueur. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter, 1 piece at a time.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover crepes with foil; heat in oven 10 minutes. Transfer to plates. Top with sauce and oranges. Dust with confectioners' sugar.