Cold Morning, Warm Breakfast!

I was able to come home for the weekend as a little reprieve before my first big calculus exam of the semester. Not only was it amazing to wake up and eat my breakfast in a kitchen in my pajamas, but it also SNOWED! The blanket of white outside the sunroom window created the perfect atmosphere for cooking a warm, delicious breakfast for my mom and I. Due to the special occasion and some input from my mom, we decided on crepes for breakfast. They are fast, easy and very francais! The recipe we love has a few special modifications. We substitute rice flour for regular flour and use egg whites instead of regular eggs. It gives them a beautiful light color and even lighter taste. The are the perfect complement to the light layer of soft, white snow!

Rice Flour Crepes (Modified from Betty Crocker's Cookbook)
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups White Rice Flour
• 1 Tbs. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Cups milk
• 3 eggs worth of egg whites (measurements should be on the side of the carton, about 3/4 Cup)
• 2 Tbs. butter or margarine (we use benecol)
• Canola oil (for the pan)

Directions:

1. Combine dry ingredients (Flour, sugar, baking powder, salt) in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk until well incorporated. (we sometimes use a food processor to make the process faster)
2. Heat an 8-inch pan with a light coating of oil on medium heat. Have a small container of oil on the side so you can add more to the pan between crepes to keep them from sticking.
3. Ladel the batter onto the pan and swirl the pan immediately to coat. (The batter sets quickly in the pan).
4. The crepes will cook quickly. To check their progress, lift the edges lightly with a rubber scraper and loosen the crepe. The crepe should appear lightly brown when it is ready to be flipped.
5. Gently flip the crepe and allow it to brown. When finished, transfer to a plate and enjoy!

The most exciting thing about crepes is that you can fill them with whatever you want! I personally enjoy a sweet, fresh filling of blueberries and strawberries with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar. My mom chose a more savory path with a smear of cream cheese. We agreed that both combinations looked delicious, and we happily sat down to our plates with our coffee and tea in hand. What a wonderful way to start my Saturday at home!

Mmmm! The pictures make me hungry for them all over again! The photos are courtesy of my omnipotent smartphone (sorry, about the blurred edges. I was a little impatient because I wanted to eat them!)