Being a French-American-Latino family, we try to incorporate all our cultures into our dinner and eating routines. So, I wanted to share a super easy way to make dinner fun and easy: make dinner a crepe party!
What are crepes? (in French <crêpes>)
A crepe (pronounced cr-ehp NOT crey-p) is a round flat delicious creation that is a popular street food, comfort food, you name it, in France. It is super easy to make, and depending on the toppings, it can be a breakfast, snack or even dinner (because breakfast for dinner, amirite?)
In France, there is a holiday when people eat crepes! It is called Chandeleur and, while most people think it’s all about crepes, it actually has a religious significance. La Chandeleur is celebrated on February 2nd and it marks 40 days after Christmas, and it is said to also coincide with the day Jesus was presented in the temple– today, however, it’s been my experience that in France the religious significance has been mostly lost.
Crepes are a super easy to make with relatively simple ingredients (depending on how creative you want to get with the fillings). Any night can be a crepe party! and if you double the recipe, you can have two or three meals!
Why a crepe party is a super easy option for dinner:
- Calling it a “crepe party” immediately makes it fun!
- Depending on how old your children are, you can involve them in different ways: Measuring, whisking, pouring, and if they are bigger, they can pour the batter and even flip the crepes! They can also prep the the table or pick the toppings.
- Crepes are easy to remake and warm up!
- With the varied toppings, you can get creative and your family won’t feel like they’re eating the same thing.
How to have a crepe party:
Pick a recipe! Making crepes is not hard at all, there are many recipes online. I personally like using this one: Martha Stewart’s basic crepe recipe.
Note: I have also used variations: almond milk instead of regular milk, for example, and I have tried whole wheat flour instead of white flour.
Utensils: you will need a crepe pan! There are regular pans or special electric pans.
Here is a crepe pan I like by Cuisinart:
Crepes can be fun to assemble and there are tons of ways to eat them! You can eat them sweet or savory, and get creative with the fillings!
Here are some ideas:
Sweet crepes
- Jam
- Nutella
- Butter and sugar
- Sugar
- Melted chocolate
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Lemon and sugar
- Whipped cream
Savory crepes
- eggs
- Shredded chicken or turkey breast
- Ham
- bacon
- Cheese
- Spinach
- Beans
- Avocado
- Mushrooms
- Caramelized onions
- Tomatoes
Crepes are super easy to make ahead of time, which is great for busy parents!
Making crepes is not only fun and delicious, but for me, it is also a way to share some French culture with my kids. Even if you are not French, it would be a fun way to learn about another culture!
MAKE DINNER A CREPE PARTY!
If you liked this post, check out 5 Fun Holiday Dinner Ideas with Kids
