San Pedro High French Teacher Shows the "Democratic" Way of Eating By Making Crepes  And Students Building a Wave at the School From Plastic  Bottles Invites the Public to Help on Saturday

French Teacher Diane Hartunian shows San Pedro High students how to make crepes.

By Diana L. Chapman

   French teacher Diane Hartunian readily jumped on the bandwagon to teach crepe making  to San Pedro High students after school. Why?

   Because she wants people to not be so afraid of it.

Elizabeth Solorio, 18, prepares the mix.

 "French cooking is very simple and it's not what people think," Hartunian explains during the club where students came to whip up, in this case, the sweet treats."I really like to make French cooking and culture more accessible to people. French culture is democratic. It's not just the elite that eats like this.

   "In every home they eat crepes.  French kids eat everything.  It's for everybody; Everybody eats the same cheeses, the same butters. Their success is their simplicity."

   Several students taking the class enjoyed  it immensely especially after they tasted the crepes with strawberries, Nutella and whip cream.

   The Coastal Neighborhood Council supported the program giving $1,000 for supplies. The CNC has been a longtime supporter of local schools.

Two students show off the desert they will be soon eating.

---------------------------------------

    The Wave of Awareness

   San Pedro High students and an artist -- creating a 90 foot long wave out of plastic bottles -- invited  the public this Saturday to witness and perhaps help build the giant sculpture.

   Visitors are asked to bring plastic water bottles of any size and are welcome to give a hand to build the creation.

   'It is a chance for the public to see and help work on the wave," said artist Beth Elliott, who designed the project. "It would be great if (visitors) have bottles to bring, but they don't have to."

   The event will be held from 8: 15 a.m. to noon. The Wave is located in the Senior Court at the campus, 1001 W. 15th Street. Enter on 14th between Meyler and Alma streets.

Crepe Recipe

 

You can view the complete recipe online at but it's in print below: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Crepes-Fines-Sucrees-100838?mbid=ipapp

Crepes Fines Sucrees
3/4 cup cold milk
3/4 cup cold water
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 tablespoon orange liqueur, rum, or brandy
1 cup flour (scooped and leveled)
5 tablespoon melted butter
An electric blender
A rubber scraper

An iron skillet or a crêpe pan with a 6 1/2- to 7-inch bottom diameter
2 to 3 tablespoon cooking oil and a pastry brush
A ladle or measure to hold 3 to 4 tablespoon or 1/4 cup

Place the ingredients in the blender jar in the order in which they are listed. Cover and blend at top speed for 1 minute. If bits of flour adhere to sides of jar, dislodge with a rubber scraper and blend 3 seconds more. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hour or overnight. Brush the skillet lightly with oil. Set over moderately high heat until the pan is just beginning to smoke

Immediately remove from heat and, holding handle of pan in your right hand, pour with your left hand a scant 1/4 cup of batter into the middle of the pan. Quickly tilt the pan in all directions to run the batter all over the bottom of the pan in a thin film. (Pour any batter that does not adhere back into your bowl; judge the amount of your next crêpe accordingly.) This whole operation takes but 2 or 3 seconds.

Return the pan to heat for 60 to 80 seconds. Then jerk and toss the pan sharply back and forth and up and down to loosen the crêpe. Lift its edges with a spatula and if the underside is a nice light brown, the crêpe is ready for turning.
Turn the crêpe by using 2 spatulas; or grasp the edges nearest you in your fingers and sweep it up toward you and over again into the pan in a reverse circle; or toss it over by a flip of the pan.

Brown lightly for about 1/2 minute on the other side. This second side is rarely more than a spotty brown, and is always kept as the underneath or nonpublic aspect of the crêpe. As they are done, slide the crêpes onto a rack and let cool several minutes before stacking on a plate. Grease the skillet again, heat to just smoking, and proceed with the rest of the crêpes. Crêpea may be kept warm by covering them with a dish and setting them over simmering water or in a slow oven. Or they may be made several hours in advance and reheated when needed. Crêpea freeze perfectly.)

As soon as you are used to the procedure, you can keep 2 pans going at once, and make 24 crêpea in less than half an hour.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume One
October 2001, Julia Child