Breakfast Crepes

Let's put the myth that making crepes are hard to rest. People think crepes are hard to make because the first one ALWAYS comes out looking terrible! The truth is, you need to sacrifice that first crepe to the food Gods (and sometimes the second one too) until they start coming out looking great. No need for a special crepe making pan. Just good eyes, sensible heat, a good nonstick pan, and a little practice.

The good news.... crepes are one of the most inexpensive breakfasts foods you can make and the ingredients are pretty much on-hand in anyone's kitchen. So, get practicing!!!

8 crepes (4 servings)
10 minute prep time
3 minute cook time
15 minute inactive time

Ingredients
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups flour

Filling Ideas
Strawberries, bananas, nutella, whipped cream, syrup


1. In a food processor, mix together eggs, milk, water, sugar, and salt. Add the melted butter and mix until well blended. Add flour and continue to process until smooth with no lumps. Pour into a mixing bowl, and let sit for 15 minutes to allow the bubbles to rise to the top.

2. Prepare whatever you would like for fillings. Sliced strawberries, bananas, Nutella (a chocolate hazelnut spread), fresh whipped almond cream, and Vermont maple syrup are a few of my favorites. I also like reconsituted raisins and crasins (1/2 cup of each, fill with water till it just covers the fruit, add a couple teaspoons for brown sugar, and boil for 15-25 minutes until the fruit is plump).

3. Heat a non-stick frying pan to medium heat. No need for the pan to be screaming hot. Spray with non-stick spray and pour slightly less then a 1/4 cup of batter into the middle of the pan. Pick-up the pan and rotate slowly to allow the batter to spread out evenly. The goal is to make a perfect circle. Put the pan back down on the burner and allow to cook until the edges are slightly dry. Using any method you like, flip the crepe over and start cooking the other side.

And now... and important Quick & Dirty Tip: it takes about 1 minute for each side to cook. When you flip it over, the crepe should still be pale or just starting to develop color. You don't want to brown the crepe as it will be too dry and not fold well. I use a fork and my thumb to flip these suckers over, some people use a spatula, and others use chop sticks. I say, whatever gets the job done without breaking the crepe is the correct way to do it.

4. THROW AWAY THE FIRST CREPE. Spray your pan with non-stick spray and start your second crepe. When it is finished (and this one should look a lot nicer), put on a towel lined cookie sheet and keep in a 180 degree oven until all the crepes are finished. As each one is finished cooking, stack them up right on top of each other.

5. To plate, fold 2 crapes in half, and then in half again. Put all your fillings on the side and let your friends and family stuff the crepes however they like. Enjoy!

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Quick & Dirty Tips:
Have fun with the fillings... the possibilities are endless.

If you want to make the process even faster, do two pans at a time! Or you can be crazy like me and trying doing four pans... that makes you a crepe master.

If the crepes are coming out dark, turn down the temperature on the stove. Getting the correct heat in the pan is key for crepes to come out well.

Chocolate Cranberry Almond Biscotti

I won't reveal the name of the person that said this, but recently a person who is very connected to the Pomegranate Inn made the comment, "You can make biscotti?" She wasn't talking about me having the ability but rather, the fact the most Americans find biscotti in a tub or jar individually wrapped for mass consumption.

Yes, the everyday person CAN make biscotti! But why make mass produced Plain Jane Biscotti when you can throw a bunch of additional flavors into it? This recipe really is so easy to make and I hope it inspires you to head to the kitchen and whip up a batch!

16-20 servings
10 minute prep time
45 minute cook time
10 minutes inactive time

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon almond extract
1 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In an electric mixer, mix butter and sugar until well combined. Continue mixing adding one egg at a time until mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in almond extract.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a stiff dough forms. Add cranberries and chocolate chips and mix until well combined.

5. Liberally, flour a work surface and knead dough several times, adding more flour as needed. Keep kneading until dough is only slightly sticky but not stick to the work surface.

6. Divide the dough in half. Take one half and form into a 2 inch wide by 10 inch long rectangle. Repeat with the second half of the dough. Place both rectangles on the parchment lined pan and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

7. Remove biscotti from the oven and let cool on the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice diagonally, forming biscotti that are about 4-5 inches in length.

8. Transfer biscotti back to the baking pan and continue cooking for an additional 5-8 on each side until dry and firm on the outside of each biscotti. Remove from oven and let cool. Enjoy!


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Quick & Dirty Tips
When slicing the "rectangle" use a bread knife. It works much better and won't crush your creation!

I always add extra chocolate chips when I am making cookies, but DON'T when making biscotti... you'll end up with a lot of melted chocolate everywhere and biscotti that is really just chocolate bread. I've learned from my own mistake....

On the second bake, I lay the cut side down, then turn the biscotti after 5-8 minutes. I've tried to cheat by just putting the bottom down on the pan but it overcooked the bottom leaving a slightly burnt flavor. You just want to get moisture out of the biscotti and crisp up the outside.

Biscotti will last for a week at room temperature in a plastic bag and several months in the freezer. Defrost at room temperature.