CREPES

I SPIED A BOOK ON CREPES AT MY LOCAL VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA. I FAST-FORWARDED TO THE BASIC RECIPE FOR CREPES. SATISFIED THAT THE STANDARD FORMULA WAS MY CONTENTION TOO, I PUT THE BOOK BACK IN ITS PLACE ON A DISORGANIZED SHELF.

I COOK MOST MEALS AND BREAKFAST ON THE DAY OF MY RECIPE CHECK ABOVE, WAS - CREPES. MY ONE BAD HABIT IS TO SKIP THE FANCY, UNREALISTIC FORMS OF COOKING AND PREPARE FOODS THE WAY I LIKE. I MAKE CREPES AHEAD OF TIME AND REFRIGERATE THEM BETWEEN PIECES OF WAX PAPER.

I PUT ABOUT 3 OR 4 TBSP. OF FLOUR IN A BOWL FOR A RECIPE FOR 2 PEOPLE. I ADD SOME ORANGE JUICE ( THE GENERIC RECONSTITUTED FROZEN VARIETY), ABOUT A QUARTER OF A CUP, TO MUSH IT UP AND LIQUIFY IT. I ADD 1 EGG IF I WISH CHOLESTEROL AND FAT IN THE DISH. I HAVE MADE CREPES SANS EGG OFTEN. THEN I ADD A LITTLE MILK. OF COURSE, MY CONCOCTION IS NOT MILK BUT LIQUIFIED POWDERED CREAM WHICH TASTES YUMMY AND WORKS JUST AS WELL WITHOUT THE FAT OF MILK AND WITH A RICH FLAVOR THAT 2% MILK IS MISSING. TO GET THE BATTER THE RIGHT CONSISTENCY I ADD TINY BURSTS OF WATER UNTIL THE BATTER IS RUNNY, CREAMY, THIN LIQUID. WHEN IN DOUBT ADD A LITTLE MORE ORANGE JUICE WHICH GIVES THE CREPES THEIR TANG.

THE PAN NEEDS TO BE HOT BUT KEEP THE HEAT SOURCE ON LOW. TEFLON IS BEST. I HAVE THROWN CAUTION TO THE WIND ABOUT ITS DANGEROUS EFFUSIONS. I SPRAY IT WITH VEGETABLE SPRAY - THE CHEAPEST GENERIC BRAND - AND POUR THE LIQUID INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE PAN TO MAKE A PUDDLE. THEN I ARTFULLY SHAKE THE PUDDLE AROUND TO FORM A LARGER CIRCLE. YOU CAN USE BUTTER OR MARGARINE BUT AGAIN THAT'S IF YOU WANT MORE FAT IN YOUR TUMMY. I WAIT UNTIL THE CREPE BECOMES SET AND SLIGHTLY BROWN AROUND THE EDGES. WHAT TO DO NOW? TURN THE CIRCLE OVER? FOLD THE EDGE OVER TO FORM A HALF? OR ROLL TWICE TO FORM A THIRD? SINCE I ONLY EAT THEM FOR BREAKFAST, I PREFER MY CREPES FOLDED AND STACKED. BE PATIENT, UNLIKE ME, AS YOU COOK. CREPES. FOR BREAKFAST WITH SAUSAGE ARE GOOD. WITH GENUINE MAPLE SYRUP THEY ARE BETTER. WITH A SLICED FRUIT LIKE BANANA (HEATED WITH THE CREPE FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE IN THE MICROWAVE), THEY ARE BEST. STRONG COFFEE IS THE ACCOMPANYING BEVERAGE OF CHOICE,