Today, We're Making:

• French Crepe Making
• 'Bon Appétit Baguettes' - Teaching kids to knead and shape their own mini baguettes. They can then use these fresh baguettes to make simple French sandwiches with cheese and ham. This exercise not only teaches them cooking basics but also about the French culture of using fresh bread in their meals.
• 'Petit Chef Ratatouille' - Ratatouille is a classic French dish that is both healthy and delicious. Have the kids help with chopping vegetables (with supervision) and layering them to make this colorful dish. This can also be paired with a viewing of the animated film “Ratatouille” for extra fun.
• 'Parisian Palmiers' - These are simple,sweet puff pastry treats that require only two ingredients: puff pastry and sugar. Kids can help roll the dough and they will love seeing the pastries puff up in the oven. Plus, these buttery,crisp treats are a classic in France.
• 'French Flag Fruit Salad' - Kids can prepare a healthy and vibrant fruit salad using fruits in the colors of the French flag. Strawberries or raspberries for red, blueberries for blue.

Is there anything more quintessentially French than the art of crepe making?

Picture this: It's a brisk Sunday morning in Paris and the first rays of sunlight are just beginning to glimmer on the rippling surface of the Seine. You wander down a narrow cobblestone street and find yourself lured by the intoxicating aroma of butter and sugar from a small, bustling creperie. Just the thought of those thin, delicate pancakes being expertly flipped and filled with your favorite ingredients has you daydreaming, right?

Well, guess what?

With this comprehensive guide to perfect French Crepe Making, you don't need a plane ticket to the City of Love to indulge in this divine culinary tradition. Grab your crepe pan and let's embark on this French cooking journey, right from the comfort of your own kitchen.

From savory Brittany crepes for breakfast to champagne region crepes for dessert, we're about to transform your homemade crepes adventure into a gastronomic tour.

Getting Started: Crepe Making Tools You Need

Before we delve into the French crepe recipe, let's talk about the tools you need. The crepe pan is the star of the show. A quality non-stick crepe pan that distributes heat evenly will make your life easier when you're flipping crepes. Consider opting for a thinner pan for more control and better heat conduction. A flat spatula is also essential for flipping and handling the perfect crepes without tearing them apart.

Additionally, a crepe batter spreader, known in France as a 'Râteau,' is also worthwhile. This vital tool in French cooking allows for even dispersion of your crepe batter, creating the beautifully thin pancakes that epitomize traditional French crepes. Lastly, remember to have a ladle handy. You'll need to pour just the right amount of batter onto your crepe pan on your quest for those delicately thin crepes.

The Crepe Batter: Basic Ingredients and Techniques

After assembling your crepe making tools, the next part of French Crepe Making lies in mastering the crepe batter. This simple blend of kitchen staples is the foundation of the perfect crepes. The four main crepe ingredients are flour, milk, eggs, and a dash of salt. Don’t forget to add a knob of melted butter for that tantalizing buttery aroma!

While making crepes at home, keep in mind that the consistency of your batter will determine the outcome. It should be relatively liquid but creamy, more like a creamy soup than a Sunday pancake batter. Blend the ingredients for a few minutes in your mixer until they form a smooth, and slightly thick liquid, avoiding any lumps. Once the batter is mixed, let it rest for at least an hour. This time allows the batter to fully develop and results in a better texture.

Crepe Filling Ideas: The Dessert and The Savory

Now, let's discuss the fillings, the soul of your homemade crepes. Both savory and sweet crepes offer an array of scrumptious possibilities. Brittany crepes, for instance, are traditionally made with buckwheat flour and filled with savory goodies such as ham, cheese, and eggs. A perfect option for a French-style breakfast or to impress your guests over brunch.

For a delectable dessert, Champagne region crepes are a real treat. These sweet crepes are perfect for satiating your sweet tooth, with classic fillings like Nutella, sugar and lemon, or fresh berries. Remember, the best part about homemade crepes is personalizing them to fit your palate, so go wild and play around with different crepe filling ideas!

French Cooking Techniques For Perfect Crepes

Finally, a big part of French Crepe Making is the cooking process. Cooking the crepes should be done over medium heat. Pour just a ladle of batter onto the center of your hot crepe pan and immediately tilt and swirl the pan until the batter covers the surface. Wait until the top of the crepe starts to look a bit dry, then gently flip it. Practice makes perfect in this instance, so don't be dismayed if your first few aren't textbook perfect.

Keep in mind that crepes cook quickly! Generally, only a minute or two on each side is needed. Once they're cooked, you can start filling them right away or store them for later. The beauty of crepes is in their versatility. They make for a great weekend breakfast with the family, an impressive dessert for guests, or a unique dinner when filled with savory ingredients.

Stay tuned to the end of this guide for an array of fun crepe topping and filling ideas… we promise it will take your homemade crepes to breathtaking, Parisian levels!

Don't forget, whether it's Sunday brunch or a mid-week treat, the most important thing to bring to your French Crepe Making is a sense of fun and of course, a hearty appetite.

Your Passport to French Cuisine

And there you have it - your passport to a prideful rendezvous with French cuisine, right in your home kitchen! So, let’s keep that crepe pan hot and the batter flowing. Remember, these irresistible, thin French pancakes await your artistic touch of fillings.

So don your apron, arm yourself with your spatula for these delicious masterpieces are waiting to be crafted. And as the rich aroma of your homemade crepes waft through your house, there's a chance you might just forget that you're not, in fact, wandering down that narrow cobblestone street in Paris.

Bon Appetit!

Until our next culinary adventure together, keep the crepe love alive and flowing in your home kitchen. Remember, the world is your crepe!

You May Also Like These:

Bon Appétit Baguettes

• 500g strong white bread flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 7g sachet fast-action yeast
• 370ml water
• Various toppings: grated cheese, sesame seeds, poppy seeds

1. Measure the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the yeast and mix well.
3. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm water.
4. Mix everything together to form dough.
5. Children can now knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 mins until smooth.
6. Leave to rest for 1 hr, or until the dough has doubled in size.
7. Divide dough into small portions and roll into a baguette shape. Decorate with toppings if wished.
8. Bake for 20-25 mins or until the baguettes sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
9. Serve with ham and cheese for a delicious French sandwich.

Petit Chef Ratatouille

• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 small eggplant
• 1 small zucchini
• 1 small yellow squash
• 1 long red bell pepper

1. In a large pan, sauté onions and garlic until lightly browned.
2. Add tomato puree, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir until well combined.
3. Chop vegetables into thin slices (children can help here under supervision).
4. Layer the sliced veggies in alternating patterns on top of the sauce.
5. Cover the pan with foil and bake for about 20 minutes. Uncover, then bake for another 20 minutes, until the vegetables are softened and cooked through.
6. Pairs well with a viewing of “Ratatouille”.

Parisian Palmiers

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1 puff pastry sheet, defrosted (from a standard 17.3-ounce package)
• more granulated sugar, for sprinkling

1. Mix sugar and salt.
2. Sprinkle flat surface with sugar mix.
3. Unfold puff pastry on the sugared surface and sprinkle more sugar mix.
4. With a rolling pin, press the sugar mix into puff pastry.
5. Fold each side over twice until they meet in the center. Fold again so the two halves meet.
6. Slice the dough into 3/8-inch slices and place the slices sugar side up on baking sheet.
7. Bake for 6 minutes, flip with a spatula, and bake for 5 minutes more, until caramelized.

Buttery Pleasure- Printable Instructions for Parents

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Take a bowl and cream together the softened butter and white sugar until smooth.
• Mix in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and vanilla extract to make a smooth dough.
• Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light, golden brown.
• As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, dust them with the confectioners' sugar. Keep in mind: Be careful, cookies are hot!

How to Prepare Buttery Biscuits

Follow these easy steps to make your own delectable, buttery biscuits:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, cold
• 3/4 cup of whole milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cut the cold butter into small cubes and add them to the flour mixture. Use your fingers to work the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Pour in the cold milk and stir until just combined. Do not overwork the dough.
5. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and gently knead it a few times to bring it together. Then pat the dough out into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.
6. Use a biscuit cutter or a glass to cut out biscuits from the dough. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet.
7. Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until they are golden brown on top. Serve warm.

French Flag Fruit Salad

Turn the French flag into a delightful and healthy fruit salad prepared by your kids. The salad is made by layering vibrant, juicy fruits in the colors of the French flag. It's fun, easy, and a great way to engage children in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

• Red: Strawberries, raspberries, or red grapes
• White: Banana slices, apple chunks, or lychee
• Blue: Blueberries, or dark-colored grapes
• For Dressing:
  • Juice of 1/2 Lemon
  • 2 tablespoons Honey or Maple Syrup

Instructions:

1. Firstly, rinse all the selected fruits and pat them dry.
2. For the red layer, hull and halve the strawberries, or simply use the raspberries or red grapes as they are.
3. For the white layer, turn bananas into slices and apples into chunks, or if using lychees, peel and deseed them.
4. For the blue layer, gently rinse the blueberries or dark-colored grapes and dry them.
5. In a large bowl, combine all the cut fruits. Begin with a layer of red fruits, followed by white, and then blue to resemble the French flag. Repeat this until all fruits are used.
6. In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice and honey. Drizzle this mixture over the fruit salad just before serving.

Enjoy your French Flag Fruit Salad, a healthy dash of vibrancy and French charm!

Food for Blueberries

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and line a muffin tray with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and sugar.
3. Melt the butter and let it cool slightly. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
4. Add the vanilla extract and milk to the egg and butter mixture. Stir until well combined.
5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth.
6. Fold in the fresh blueberries.
7. Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full with the blueberry batter.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Allow to cool before removing from the muffin tray. Enjoy!