Baked Pear Pancakes

This oven-baked pear pancake transports me back to Amsterdam. I had gone for bicycle ride out to the countryside and stopped at a cute little restaurant where I enjoyed a pancake similar to this one on their garden patio. Although I love American pancakes (especially with blueberries!), these European style pancakes are a special treat. Make this for your significant other on a weekend morning for a romantic breakfast in bed!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 tablespoon sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pear, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
• non-stick spray

1. Preheat oven to 400. Spray 2 9-inch round pans with non-stick coating.
2. Whisk all ingredients (except the pear) together. Mix in the pear.
3.  Pour evenly into the 2 pans, spreading out the pears. 
4. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 and cook for another 10 minutes. 

Je T'adore Crepes

Crepes evoke so many different memories. They make me think of eating a Nutella and banana crepe in a Parisian park, mushroom and cheese blini (a Russian crepe) in downtown Moscow, and of a crepe cafe in Oakland which my husband and I visit a couple times a year. The great thing about crepes is their versatility. They can be sweet or savory, they can be for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a snack, but they are always a special treat.

The history of crepes begins with the basic pancake. People have been making flat, unleavened dough since prehistoric times, and they were probably round in reverence to the sun. Almost every culture has its own version of the pancake. The French eat crepes, the Russians eat blinis, Americans eat pancakes, Indians eat lentil cakes, and Mexicans eat tortillas.

It's not hard to make crepes and you don't need one of those fancy griddles or a special tool to spread the batter around. To get kids involved let them choose what fillings they want and they can create their own crepe.

Here is a basic crepe recipe:

• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup flour
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• if you are making sweet crepes, you can also add a couple tablespoons sugar and a tablespoon vanilla extract
• or if you are making savory crepes, you can add some finely chopped fresh herbs

1. In a blender, combine all ingredients and pulse for 10 seconds.
2. Place batter in refrigerator for at least an hour. This allows the bubbles to dissolve.
3. Heat small non-stick pan and add butter to coat. You will need something to measure out 1.5 ounces- I usually use a shot glass which is about the perfect size.
4. Pour 1.5 ounces of batter into the pan and swirl around to spread it evenly around. let cook for 30-60 seconds and flip the crepe. Cook for another 30-60 seconds. If you are using some ingredients you want to melt (like cheese) you can place them on the crepe while the second side is cooking.
5. Fill your crepes with whatever ingredients you desire and really get creative! You can roll your crepes like an enchilada, fold in halve or in fourths.

Filling Ideas:

• scrambled eggs
• grilled veggies- onions, zucchini, peppers
• cheese- brie, Comte, goat cheese
• meats- bacon, ham, turkey slices
• fruits- banana, apple, berries, peaches
• peanut butter or Nutella
• ice cream

I Heart Tarts

There was a point where I was obsessed with making tarts. It all started when I ran across Andre Soltner's recipe for his famous tart a l'oignon. Andre Soltner was born in 1932 in Alsace, France, where tarts such as this one, are traditional cuisine. Soltner is known for popularizing fine French cuisine in the United States. He became the chef-owner of Lutece, a fine French restaurant in Manhattan, and Lutece was famous not only for its chef, but for its tart a l'oignon, the exact onion tart that began my obsession.

You will need a couple things to make Soltner's Alsation Onion Tart: a tart pan and some patience (if you attempt to make your own pastry. You can always buy premade pie pastry. I won't judge you.). This thing took 4 hours in total to make the first time (I have since gotten much quicker)! But this is art and so worth the time and energy it took to make it. The ingredients are really simple, but all together, it's something much, much more. It's light and creamy, yet rich in flavor. The bacon doesn't over-power the onion, but compliments it perfectly.

For pastry:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 stick butter- cold and cut into small cubes
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons ice-cold water

For filling:

• 4 slices bacon (1/4 lb)- cut into small pieces
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 lbs onion, thinly sliced or chopped
• 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup creme fraiche or heavy cream
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1. First start by making the pastry. Blend together flour, butter, shortening, and salt in a bowl with a pastry blender or pulse in a food processor (I blended mine with a pastry paddle in my Kitchenaid). Blend just until most of mixture resembles course meal with small pea-size lumps. Drizzle with cold water and gently stir with a fork or pulse processor until incorporated.
2. Being careful not to over-mix, roll dough into ball, split in half, and wrap each ball in plastic to keep it from drying out. Put in fridge for at least an hour.
3. Roll dough out on floured surface with floured rolling-pin. Fit into a tart pan and trim excess dough. Put back into fridge for 30 minutes.
4. Line shell with tin foil and fill with pie weights (I used rice). Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and weights and bake shell for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
5. While the crust is cooking, start on the filling. Cook the bacon in large skillet over moderate heat until crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain and pour off bacon fat. Add butter to skillet and cook onions with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, until wilted. Cover skillet and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and pale golden. Stir in bacon and remove from heat to cool.
6. Whisk together cream, eggs, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Then stir in onion and bacon.
7. Pour filling into shell, spreading out onions evenly, and bake for 25-35 minutes. It's ready when the filling is set and the top is golden. 

I love that I can use a basic formula and add whatever ingredients I want to make my own tart. Here are a couple more of my favorite recipes.

Goat Cheese Tart
Here is a link to a friend's recipe for her goat cheese tart which inspired my own version: Sliced Strawberries' Goat Cheese Tart. I stuck with Soltner's pastry recipe and here is my filling:

• 1 cup finely chopped shallot and garlic
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 10 oz soft goat cheese
• 1 cup creme fraiche or heavy cream
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Follow steps 1 through 4 from Soltner's recipe above.
2. While the crust is cooking, start on the filling. Saute the shallots and garlic in butter until fragrant and tender.
3. Mix together the goat cheese, cream, eggs, rosemary, salt and pepper until smooth. Mix in shallots and garlic. Pour filling into the shell and bake for 30-40 minutes. It's ready when the filling is set in the middle.

The Man Tart
This tart combines potato, onion, bacon, and Gruyère, but still manages to be light! I like to call this my "man tart" because men love it. For filling:

• 2-3 slices of bacon, chopped
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 medium potato, peeled and grated (with cheese grater, wring out excess water)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
• 1 cup creme fraiche or heavy cream
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1. Follow steps 1 through 4 from Soltner's recipe.
2. While the crust is cooking, start on the filling. Cook the bacon in large skillet over moderate heat until crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain and pour off bacon fat.
3. Add butter to skillet and cook onions with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, until wilted. Add potato and cook until tender.
4. Mix together the cream and eggs until smooth. Mix in the potato and onion mixture, the cheese, and the bacon. Pour filling into the shell and bake for about 30 minutes. It’s ready when the filling is set in the middle.

Delicious!