Table for One - Crepe Craving

by Sarah LeTrent, Posted Aug 25th 2009 @ 4:00PM

Prosciutto, brie and fig preserves crepe. Photo: Sarah LeTrent

Few of us want to make a complicated lasagna for solo dining -- by day six, you'll never want to see lasagna again! In this series, AOL Food staffer Sarah LeTrent taste-tests simple recipes suitable for a "table for one."

As the last days of August draw near and summertime dwindles away, it's hard not to become a touch depressed. For many, this time of year means the end of vacation season and the renewal of daily routine of alarm clocks and venti, non-fat, extra hot lattes. But summer vacation doesn't need to be over -- not yet.

Crêpes, basically really thin French pancakes, are a delicious escape to France from the daily grind. That's the beauty of food: One bite can instantly transport you to a different time or place.

Ready to face the crêpe challenge? See Julia Child's All-Purpose Crêpe recipe for a great starting place. (If the thought of French pancakes intimidates you, ready-to-use crepes are a fast, convenient alternative. Look for them near the tortillas and wraps in your local grocery store.)

Everyday ingredients -- whole milk, butter, eggs and salt -- come together to form the batter in a flash. Next, melt a heaping tablespoon butter in a 8-inch skillet and ladle in the batter (enough for just a thin layer to coat the bottom). The pancake will start to set and turn golden underneath after about a minute. At this point, give it a flip to cook for a minute on the other side and voila! -- your first crêpe.

Once the crêpe is done, spread on a heaping tablespoon of fig preserves (homemade or store-bought -- Bonne Maman is a wonderful brand to use), a few slices of prosciutto and a couple slices of brie.

Brie, a naturally creamy cheese, makes this crêpe not only ooey, but gooey too.

The mild cheese, fig preserves and salty prosciutto create a culinary yin-and-yang -- a perfect balance of sweet and savory.

So if you're trying to savor those last moments of summer, take a taste bud vacation with this crêpe creation. For a "table for one," these pancakes are ideal -- leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or even frozen until your next hankering.

Got any other ideas for Table for One? Leave them in the comments!

Tags: brie, crepes, fig, prosciutto, table for one, TableForOne