homemade crepes

Crepes are the skinny light fluffy cousins of pancakes. Chock-full of goodies like nutella, bananas, strawberries, cinnamon-sugar, syrup, and everything a bit naughty, crepes can start your weekend day off on the right foot. You could always play it the healthy way and swap some of the (delicious) sugary-fillings for eggs, shredded chicken, steak, ham, grilled or roasted veggies, to have a brunch or even a dinner meal instead. Using only ingredients I bet you have on hand, these little puppies are whipped up within 10 minutes. 

Ingredients (for about 6 crepes):
2 tbs butter, melted
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup nonfat milk
1 egg 
Optional mix-ins of choice (I used one banana, cinnamon-sugar & syrup)

Directions:
1. Mix flour with salt in a small bowl and set aside.
 

2.  Melt butter and place in a large bowl.

 

3. Add milk & egg to butter and whisk.

 

4. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir to mix until all clumps are gone.
 

 

5. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour about 1/3 cup of batter into a large nonstick skillet, pick up the skillet and let batter drip to cover the entire pan in a thin layer. Return to heat and let cook for about 2 minutes, until the wet-looking inner bit gets smaller and the crepe begins to cook through.

 

6. Carefully flip when the sides begin harder, cook for another minute, until bits of brown show on the underside.
 

7. Remove from pan and add fillings/toppings immediately. Serve warm.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Super versatile & impressive, whip these bad boys up on a weekend morning and you've found yourself a perfect brunch recipe for your arsenal.

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chocolate chip cookies with banana

Last night I made chocolate chip cookies with slices of banana in them. This was a special request for a birthday...and I had never tried to make these before, but by goodness I will make these all the time now! T was the taste-tester and tested 5 before admitting that these were THE BEST COOKIES he had EVER HAD in his WHOLE LIFE! I heard this report many more times today...so enjoyyyyyy!

Ingredients (makes 18 medium/large cookies)

 2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter (cubed)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 egg yolk

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

2 bananas

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly butter/grease baking sheets. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.

2. In a medium bowl (or a mixer), cream together the cubed butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended.

3. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy.

4. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand. 

5. Drop 1/2 tbsp cookie dough onto prepared cookie sheet. Place banana slice on each dollop.

6. Cover banana slice with another 1/2 tbsp cookie dough and make sure all of banana slice is enveloped in the dough.

7. Bake for 14-16 minutes (check often to make sure they are perfect) until the top is crispy and the edges are almost browning. 

8. Cool on wire rack and enjoy [with a nice glass of milk]! 

 

*Also, if you're a peanut butter lover, feel free to pop some peanut butter in there, too!*

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simple weekend recap: edition 2

It's been much too warm to do anything too crazy this past weekend. Went out for drinks and apps with a friend last week at Scollay Square...had some delicious drinks (The Absolut Lemonade made of Absolute Citron, St. Germaine, fresh Lemon and Champagne...also known as delicious) with some tasty apps of guac and pulled pork sliders with cole slaw.

 Made some granola (recipe later this week!)...

 

Went to a nearby vineyard for another friend's bachelorette party...

 

  

Now I'm off to make chocolate chip cookies with banana insides and vanilla sugar (recipes this week!) for a birthday tomorrow...while Erin rests by the fan trying to survive this heat!

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banana whoopie pies

Tonight I made banana whoopie pies with peanut butter-cream cheese frosting...pretty much like a fancy peanut butter and banana sandwich...and pretty much delicious!

Ingredients needed:


pies
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mashed overripe banana
1/2 cup sour cream/low-fat original yogurt/greek yogurt (your choice!)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla 

peanut-butter cream cheese frosting

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons of peanut butter



Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

 

2. In a small bowl, stir together mashed banana and yogurt of choice.

3. In a mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugars until light and creamy. Add egg and beat until combined. Mix in vanilla. Alternately mix flour and banana mixture into the creamed butter, beginning and ending with flour mixture, mixing just until combined.

 4. Cover baking sheet in parchment paper and put a tablespoon or so (depending on how large you want your pies to be) somewhat flattened spread around. Bake for about 14 minutes or until golden brown on the sides. Remove and let cool.

5. While the pies cool you can make the frosting...In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and peanut butter until smooth and creamy. 

6. Assemble! On the flat side of half the cakes, spoon a tablespoon of the filling on top. Top with the unfilled halves to form a sandwich. Enjoy!

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