CREPES TO MAKE AND STORE

Crepes to Make and Store image

Provided by Food Network

Yield about 12 crepes

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 cup each cold water and whole milk
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
About 1 1/3 cups flour
Vegetable oil or melted butter
4 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons flour
2 3/4 cups hot milk or chicken broth
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup light cream
3/4 cup grated Swiss cheese or Fontina
24 crepes (make above recipe in a double batch)
1 package (10 ounces) thawed frozen chopped spinach, squeezed dry and cooked with clove, minced garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil - with or without 1/2 cup slivered smoked ham or Proscuitto
Cheese sauce (see above recipe)
1 cup Ricotta cheese mixed with 1 egg and 1/2 cup slivered roasted peppers
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

In a blender or food processor combine the water, milk, eggs salt and flour. With a rubber spatula, scrape down any batter which adheres to the sides of the processor. If the batter appears thick, add more water; if too thin, then gradually whisk in more flour. Let the batter set, in the refrigerator for an hour or so.
Rub an 7-inch crepe pan or non-stick pan with oil or melted butter. Set over high heat until pan just begins to smoke. Ladle about 3 tablespoons of batter into the hot pan. Lift the pan from the heat and swirl the batter around so that it evenly coats the bottom. Pour excess back into the batter for the next crepe. Let the crepe cook on one side for about a minute or until it looks dried out. Flip the crepe over and cook it for 30 seconds on the other side. Repeat until all are done.
To store, stack them, with waxed paper or parchment squares in between each one and freeze in batches.
Heat butter and add flour. Cook slowly for a minute or two. Add the hot liquid and bring to a boil, stirring continuously. Season to taste with salt and pepper; beat in cream. Off heat, add cheese and adjust the seasoning.
Yield: 3 cups of sauce
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9-inch deep pie plate and center a crepe in the bottom. Mix the spinach filling with 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce and spread some of this over the first crepe. Center a crepe on top of spinach filling and spread it with ricotta cheese and pepper filling. Top with a crepe and continue this way until you end with a crepe. Spoon cheese sauce over the top of the tower and sprinkle with grated Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbling hot. You can assemble the "tower" of crepes and fillings in advance and make the sauce in advance, but spoon sauce over crepes right before baking. If you have made this in advance and it is cold you will have to bake it for 45 minutes to heat it through.
Yield: 4 dinner servings