Crêpes de la Chandeleur

(It means pancakes. French ones. Thin. Elegant. Slightly dramatic.)

For today’s recipe, I wanted to be traditional.

Actually. Let’s be honest.

I wanted to be very French.

How French? WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A FRENCH GIRL MAKING CRÊPES ON LA CHANDELEUR. In France. On the actual day. While probably wearing stripes somewhere. It does not get more cliché than this. And frankly. I am embracing it.

A little culture break
La Chandeleur, also called La Fête des Crêpes, dates back to Roman times and later became a Christian celebration marking the end of winter and the return of light. Traditionally, families make crêpes and flip them while holding a coin in the other hand for good luck and prosperity.

Yes. We literally believe pancakes bring money.
No further questions.

Setting the Mood

Open your music platform of choice and search “La Mer” by Charles Trenet or “Sous le Ciel de Paris” and let France enter your kitchen.

Recipe

Now. Let’s get to the good part. The crêpes.

The beauty of this recipe is that it looks impressive, feels festive, and requires almost no effort once you get the rhythm.

You will feel very professional flipping them. (Even if one ends up on the floor. It happens.)

Ingredients

2 cups flour
3 eggs
2 and a half cups milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 pinch of salt
2 tablespoons melted butter
A little extra butter for the pan

(optional but recommended : a dash of beer or rum) 

In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt.

- Make a little well in the center and add the eggs.

- Start whisking gently while slowly adding the milk.

- Whisk until smooth and silky. No lumps. We want elegance here.

- Add the melted butter and mix again.

Let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes if you can. This is optional. But very French.

- Heat a non stick pan over medium heat and lightly butter it.

- Pour a small ladle of batter into the pan and immediately swirl to spread it thin.

- Cook for about 1 minute until the edges lift.

- Flip. Breathe. Feel powerful.

- Cook another 30 seconds.

Repeat until your batter is gone or until you are too full to continue.

Stack them nicely. Admire your work.

 

Pairing time

Now comes the Leo’s Little Jars magic.

Feeling Elegant?
Spread a thin layer of Rose Jelly, fold into quarters, dust lightly with icing sugar, and serve with tea. Very Parisian. Very chic.

Feeling like a Connoisseur?
Warm your crêpe, add Orange and Cardamom marmalade, fold gently, and finish with a few toasted almonds if you feel fancy. This is grown up crêpe energy.

Feeling Dirty?
Generous layer of Amarula de Leche  (or new Dulce de Leche with Coffee). Roll it up. Eat it standing in the kitchen. No plate. No regrets. Pure pleasure.

Serve with : Friends. Family. Or just yourself in pyjamas

Le Recap' (To Sum Up)

What you need:

Flour, eggs, milk, butter
A good non stick pan
A jar of Rose Jelly
A jar of Orange and Cardamom marmalade
A jar of Amarula de Leche
Patience for flipping
Someone to share with (optional but recommended)

Flip with confidence.
Eat with joy.
Believe in pancake luck.

Bonne Chandeleur les amis

With love,
Léo