Luscious Cheese Crepes With Apricot Sauce Food

EASY CREPES WITH BRANDY

Steps:

• In a blender, combine milk and eggs. Mix on medium-high speed until foamy, about 10 seconds. Turn blender to low speed and remove feed top. With blender going, add sugar and salt. Replace feed top and blend on high speed for a few seconds, then turn blender back to low. In the same manner, add butter, brandy, and vanilla, replacing feed top and blending for several seconds after each addition. Turn blender off. Add flour all at once and blend until just combined.
• Place crepe pan over moderately high heat. With flexible spatula, spread a tiny amount of butter in pan (an alternative method is to brush the pan with melted butter using a pastry brush) and heat until butter just begins to smoke. Pour ¼ to ⅓ cup batter into the center of the pan. As you pour, quickly tilt the pan in all directions to spread a thin layer of batter across the bottom. Pour in just enough batter to cover the pan.
• Cook crepe over moderately high heat until bubbles just begin to form on the exposed surface, about one to two minutes. Lift up the edge to check the cooking process-if the crepe starts to burn before it is cooked through, turn down the heat. If it is not nicely browned after two minutes, turn up the heat.
• When underside of crepe is browned, flip and cook another minute or less, until other side is browned. Remove from pan and keep warm in the oven, loosely covered with foil.
• Grease pan with a very small amount of butter and repeat process. Continue until remaining batter is used, stacking cooked crepes on a plate in the oven. To serve, sprinkle each crepe with sugar or spread with jelly and fold or roll up. Do Ahead: Crepe batter can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate, covered, and blend briefly to recombine before cooking.

RICOTTA CHEESE CREPES WITH PERSIMMON APRICOT MARMALADE

Steps:

• Sift flour, sugar and salt into a bowl. Add the eggs and just enough milk to make a soft paste with the flour. Mix until smooth and lump free. Gradually mix in the rest of the milk and the oil. The batter should be the consistency of heavy cream. If too thick, thin with a bit of water. If it has lumps, pour the batter through a fine strainer. Let the batter rest for 2 hours before making crepes.
• Rub an 8-inch crepe pan, or non stick skillet, lightly with oil. Heat over moderate heat until very hot. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in 3 to 4 tablespoons of the batter. Very quickly tilt the pan to cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of batter. Immediately dump out any excess batter since the crepe must be very thin. Return the skillet to the heat for 60 to 90 seconds until the bottom of the crepe is lightly brown. Flip the crepe over and lightly brown the other side.
• Slide the finished crepe onto a plate. Continue making crepes until the batter is finished and stack them on the plate. Cover the finished crepes with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the filling, pour ricotta cheese into cheesecloth and tie the cloth in a knot. Put a weight (or filled can) on top of the cheese and place over a colander to drain overnight.
• Mix the cheese, egg yolks, butter, salt, sugar and cinnamon. Place 2 tablespoons in the center of each crepe and roll. Crepes may be filled in advance and kept in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just before serving, bake in a 250 degree F oven for 15 minutes. Serve crepes warm, sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon and powdered sugar to garnish the plate. Top with persimmon and apricot marmalade.
• To make the marmalade, cut apricots in half and reserve. Cut out the leafy base from the persimmon then quarter the fruit lengthwise. Skin each quarter with a knife. Cut the skinned persimmons into small pieces. Combine the fruit into a non aluminum saucepan with the sugar, lemon juice, cloves and apricots. Simmer slowly for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring constantly, not letting the marmalade come to a boil. Reduce this mixture to a jam like consistency and chill.
• TIP: Cut off a piece of the pointed tip of a hachiya persimmon, then wrap it tightly, first in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Partially thaw the persimmon in the refrigerator until it is just spoonable, about 4 hours, do not thaw completely or the fruit will be mushy. For an added nuance, insert the tip of a knife and dribble in a little fruit or nut liquor. Serve whole and let the guests scoop the pulp from the skin

LUSCIOUS CHEESE CREPES WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• In blender process milk, eggs, melted butter or margarine, sugar and vanilla until blended.
• Add flour and process until smooth.
• In omlet pan or 8" skillet sprayed with cooking spray, pour 1/4 cup batter and tilt pan to allow batter to coat bottom.
• Cook over medium heat 1 minute or until cooked.
• Loosen edges and turn onto plate; keep warm.
• Repeat with remaining batter.
• Evenly spread cream cheese down center of each crepe; sprinkle with toasted almonds, roll up and set aside.
• In same skillet, bring remaining butter or margarine, preserves and liqueur to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and add crepes.
• Cook spooning sauce over crepes, 1 minute or until crepes are heated through.
• Sprinkle with toasted almonds.
• Carefully slide crepes onto serving platter and serve immediately.

POPPY-SEED CHEESE CREPES WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large cheesecloth-lined sieve set over a bowl let the yogurt drain, covered and chilled, for 8 hours. Transfer the yogurt to a bowl, add the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla, and whisk the mixture until it is smooth.
• In a small heavy saucepan combine the apricots, the brown sugar, and 2 1/2 cups water, bring the liquid to a boil, and simmer the mixture, covered, for 20 minutes. In a food processor or blender purée the mixture and force it through a sieve into a bowl. The sauce may be made 3 days in advance and kept covered and chilled. Serve the sauce either warm or at room temperature.
• Make 12 crêpes (procedure follows) with the poppy-seed crêpe batter. Mound 2 tablespoons of the filling in the center of each crêpe and fold the bottom third of the crêpe up over the filling. Fold in 1 inch of each side and fold down the top third of the crêpe to enclose the filling completely, forming a rectangle. Arrange the crêpe in one layer in a shallow baking dish, brush them with the butter, and bake them in the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven for 10 minutes. Serve the crêpes with the apricot sauce.
• In a blender or food processor blend the flour, the sugar, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, the milk, the eggs, the butter, the poppy seeds, the zest, and the salt for 5 seconds. Turn off the motor, with a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the container, and blend the batter for 20 seconds more. Transfer the batter to a bowl and let it stand, covered, for 1 hour. The batter may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Makes enough batter for about 16 crêpes.
• Heat a crêpe pan or non-stick skillet measuring 6 to 7 inches across the bottom over moderate heat until it is hot. Brush the pan lightly with the butter, heat it until it is hot but not smoking, and remove it from the heat. Stir the batter, half fill a 1/4-cup measure with it, and pour the batter into the pan. Tilt and rotate the pan quickly to cover the bottom with a layer of batter and return any excess batter to bowl. Return the pan to the heat, loosen the edge of the crêpe with a spatula, and cook the crêpe for 1 minute, or until the top appears almost dry. Turn the crêpe, cook the other side lightly, and transfer the crêpe to a plate. Make crêpe with the remaining batter in the same manner, brushing the pan lightly with butter as necessary. The crêpes may be made 3 days in advance, kept stacked, wrapped in plastic wrap, and chilled.

EASY SAVOURY CREPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Crepes: In a bowl, combine flour and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and melted butter. Whisk egg mixture into flour mixture until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Strain mixture into a clean bowl.
• Heat a small non-stick skillet or crepe pan over medium heat. Brush pan with some oil.
• Pour approximately 1/4 cup batter into centre of pan, swirling pan to coat. Cook for about 1 minute or until bottom is a light golden colour. Flip and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer to plate. Repeat with remaining batter. (Make-ahead: Stack crepes between waxed paper, wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.)
• Chicken and Garlic Filling: In a skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium high heat with garlic and thyme. Add chicken and cook, stirring for 5 minutes or until heated through. Stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and divide the chicken mixture into centre of each crepe and fold over. Place in shallow casserole dish, overlapping slightly. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and drizzle over stuffed crepes.
• Place in preheated oven for about 10 minutes or until warmed through. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

SPINACH-ARTICHOKE CANNELLONI CREPES WITH MUSTARDY CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°, with rack in upper-middle position. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add shallots, artichokes, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown in places, 5 to 7 minutes. Add spinach, a handful at a time, until all spinach is wilted and tender and any excess moisture has evaporated; season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high. Whisk in flour and simmer until mixture darkens slightly and smells nutty, about 1 minute. Whisk in milk and bring to a vigorous simmer. Continue to simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is just thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon with a thin film, 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in cheese and mustard until smooth; season with salt and pepper.
• Fold 3/4 cup cheese sauce into spinach mixture. Working one at a time, spoon 1/3 cup spinach-cheese mixture into the center of a crepe. Lift edge nearest you up and over filling, then fold in sides and roll up like a burrito to make a 2-by-4-inch rectangular package. Transfer to an 8-by-8-inch baking dish and repeat with remaining crepe and spinach-cheese mixture. Pour remaining cheese sauce evenly over filled crepes in baking dish. Cover dish tightly with parchment-lined foil.
• Bake on center rack 15 minutes. Remove parchment-lined foil and switch oven to broil. Continue cooking until cheese sauce bubbles and browns in places and crepes are warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes more. Serve immediately.

PEACH CREPES

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the milk, eggs, flour, sugar, butter and vanilla. Cover and process until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour., Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually whisk in water until smooth. Stir in 2 cups peaches and butter. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir in almond extract and remaining peaches. Cover and refrigerate., Heat a lightly greased 8-in. nonstick skillet over medium heat; pour about 2 tablespoons batter into the center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to coat bottom evenly. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter, greasing skillet as needed. When cool, stack crepes with waxed paper or paper towels in between., Spoon filling over crepes; roll up. Top with whipped cream and nutmeg if desired.

AUSTRIAN SWEET CHEESE CREPES BAKED IN CUSTARD

Steps:

• Make filling:
• In a small heatproof bowl plump currants in boiling-hot water 15 minutes and drain. Pat currants dry between paper towels. In a food processor or in a bowl with an electric mixer blend together well cream cheese, jam, yolks, zest, and vanilla. In a bowl with an electric mixer (beaters cleaned if necessary) beat whites with a pinch of salt until they hold soft peaks. Add sugar to whites and beat meringue until it holds stiff peaks. Fold cheese mixture into meringue gently but thoroughly and fold in currants.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. and lightly butter a 14-inch-long oval gratin dish or other 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish.
• Working with 1 crêpe at a time, spread 2 generous tablespoons filling on each crêpe, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around, and roll up crêpes jelly-roll fashion. With a sharp knife cut crêpes on a diagonal in half and arrange, overlapping slightly, in layers in baking dish. Crêpes may be prepared up to this point 4 hours ahead and chilled, covered. Bring crêpes to at room temperature before proceeding.
• In a small bowl whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, and milk and pour over crêpes, letting custard seep between layers. Bake crêpes in middle of oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until puffed and custard is set, and cool to warm.
• Dust crêpes with confectioners' sugar and serve with apricot caramel sauce.