Beefy Crepe Food

THE BEST CREPES

Steps:

• Add the milk, eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla and salt to a blender. Puree on high speed until completely smooth and slightly thickened and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the melted butter and puree until incorporated, 30 seconds more. Let the batter rest in the blender carafe for at least 1 hour at room temperature or refrigerate up to 24 hours. The longer you allow the batter to rest and hydrate, the lighter and softer the texture of the crepes will be; overnight is ideal.
• Before cooking, re-blend the batter at high speed for 30 seconds. This will reincorporate the ingredients, a vital step in getting an even golden color on the crepes. Wipe 1/2 teaspoon of oil on a large crepe pan or a 10-inch nonstick skillet with a paper towel. You don't want to see any drops of oil in the pan, just coat with the thinnest layer. Heat the pan over medium heat until hot.
• Ladle 1/4 cup batter into the pan. Working quickly off the heat, swirl and shake the pan to evenly coat the bottom with the batter. Return to the heat and cook the crepe, reducing the heat if it's browning too quickly, until the edges are light golden, about 2 minutes. Slide a spatula underneath to loosen the crepe and carefully flip it over. Cook on the other side until a few brown spots appear, 15 to 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter, wiping pan with oil each time. Stack the crepes on the plate as you go (you should have about 15 total). Let the crepes cool for 10 minutes before serving or filling.
• For fillings, we suggest Nutella and bananas or peanut butter and jelly for sweet crepes. Ham and cheese makes a great filling for savory crepes.

BEEF BURGUNDY CREPE

Steps:

• Add beef cubes and brown on all sides.
• Pour 1 cup of water over beef cubes, add bay leaf and let simmer, covered for 1 to 2 hours over low heat. Check every 20 minutes and add water if needed. Never let the water boil away.
• Place onion , mushrooms,pepper and onion powder into the pot and cook about 5 to 10 minutes until tender. Add wine and bring to a low boil for about 1 minute.
• Dissolve cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water and add to simmering beef to thicken meat juices. (Stir until thickened to avoid lumps).
• Remove pot from heat. Seperate beef cubes from the thickened beef juices.
• Place crepe onto a plate, browned side down. Spoon 1/2 cup beef cube mixture onto crepe. Roll crepe and pour thickened sauce across the crepe. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

SPICY BEEF FILLING FOR CREPES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan, then saute the onions for a couple of minutes, until they turn soft.
• Add the garlic and chilli and cook until the onions start to turn golden.
• Add the mince beef and stir until the meat is cooked a little bit.
• Pour stock over the meat (1/2 cup, or as much as needed for the meat to be almost fully covered in liquid).
• Turn down the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add tomato paste and paprika and let simmer further, until almost all the liquid has vapourised.
• Just before taking off the heat, season with salt and pepper, to taste (you can leave the pepper out if you think the beef would be too spicy).
• Serve right away and, when serving in the crepes, put about 3 tbsp of spicy beef on one half of the pancake, garnish with grated cheese and coriander, fold the pancake and -- enjoy!

BEEF AND CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
• Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

CREPES

Steps:

• Combine flour, milk, eggs, and oil.
• Add salt.
• Heat a lightly greased 6 inch skillet; remove from heat.
• Spoon in 2 Tbsp batter; lift and tilt skillet to spread evenly.
• Return to heat; brown on one side only.
• To remove, invert pan over paper toweling.
• Repeat with remaining batter.
• Fill with your favorite filling.
• Here's a few we like: Any flavor fruit jam, sweetened fresh peaches, cream cheese and pineapple, ham and maple syrup.
• Endless ideas.

BEEFY CREPES MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat and add celery and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and salt and cook until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and marinara sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium low and cook until thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350. Combine ricotta, 1 1/2 cups cheese, egg, parsley and rosemary. Divide filling among crepes, using 1/3 cup for each, covering 1/4 of crepe about 1 inch from end. Roll up from filling end.
• Spread 1/3 of sauce in a 12" x 9" baking dish. Top with 4 crepes, seam-side down. Top with 1/3 of sauce, then remaining crepes, sauce and 1/2 cup cheese. Cover with foil and bake until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes.