Crepes Islandaise

It's finally here! After waiting for nearly a year after that heart-wrenching season 3 finale, season 4 of Downton Abbey is here! I won't say what happened at the end of the last season, in case some of you haven't watched the show yet or haven't caught up...but I will tell you it ended with me curled up in a ball with a bunch of Kleenex ugly crying. I was sobbing and whaling at only pitches that dogs could understand. The only other time I've ugly cried while watching a television show is during the season 5 finale of Grey's Anatomy. Those television writers just know how get you invested in characters in then just rip them away.

Despite how the last season ended, I am extremely excited to see how season 4 plays out. I heard that they are jumping ahead a few years from where season 3 left off, so that will be interesting to see how things at Downton Abbey have progressed and how the characters have moved on. What is going on with Anna and Mr. Bates? Branson? Baby Sybil? Thomas? Lady Edith? Mrs. Hughes? Ahhh I can't wait! 

Tonight we will find out, and in the meantime I'm celebrating the beginning of season 4 with an English royal breakfast inspired by Downton Abbey. Whenever I'm in need of something fantastic, fancy or feel like eating like the royals do, I grab my trusty cookbook, Eating Royally by Darren McGrady (Princess Diana's personal chef). This book always finds me something simply fabulous to make and impress my husband. From this book I found this recipe for Crepes Islandaise. According to the book, the Duke of Edinburgh was served this dish on a state visit to Iceland. He enjoyed it so much that he asked for the recipe and royal chefs have been making these crepes ever since (McGrady, 2007). I thought it would be fun to get out the fancy wedding china and make this elegant breakfast in anticipation for Downton Abbey tonight!

Crepes Islandaise
{Serves 6}

-1 cup All-Purpose Flour
-1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
-1/4 teaspoon Salt
-1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
-3 Eggs
-2-1/2 cups Milk
-1 teaspoon Vanilla Paste
-1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted
-1/4 cup seedless Raspberry Jam
-1 cup Heavy Cream, whipped
-2 tablespoons Powdered Sugar, for dusting

Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and soda into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, milk and vanilla paste. Add the egg and milk mixture to the dry ingredients, and stir until combined.

Add the melted butter a little at a time to an 8-inch crepe pan or frying pan, and heat over high heat. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the batter into the pan, and allow it to spread and set. Flip the crepe over to cook the other side, and when done, remove it to a plate to cool slightly. This whole process should take less than a minute. Repeat with the rest of the batter.

Spread the jam over the top of each pancake, and add a spoonful of whipped cream. Fold the pancake in half twice so that you have a neat triangle, and dust with the powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Recipe & Instructions by: Darren McGrady of Eating Royally 

Other wonderful bloggers are celebrating the start of Downton Abbey Season 4 as well! 

 

Make sure to check out these other Downton Abbey inspired dishes and join us for the fun Twitter live chat tonight at 9pm EST! #DowntonBlogParty

Bakeaholic Mama - Raspberry Meringue Pudding 

A Brown Table - Black Peppercorn and Orange Steamed Pudding

Susie Freaking Homemaker - Cranberry Orange Scones

Healthy Seasonal Recipes - Mini Beef Wellington Pot Pies

Healthy Delicious - Crumpets with Strawberry Balsamic Jam

The Realistic Nutritionist - Yorkshire Puddings
Cooking with Books - Strawberry Vanilla Bean Eton Mess

{Plus a Downton Abbey Giveaway!}
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