Mini Whole Wheat Chocolate Crepe Basket with Mandarin and Strawberry

It is going to be a year [And I say this now because when the exact day arrives, I wouldn't remember] since we moved and with everyday, every move and every travel, we grow a year wiser. Now I know to lead a simple life and that I need not buy "stuff" [read "shoes" N "clothes"] like I used to during my spinster days, because I would have to let go of many "stuff" when am called to move "again". Then I learnt not to throw those bottles, chocolate wrappers because who knows I might need them for another "photo shoot". I learnt to wake up early to pack lunch for Mr.S or take the rail to the nearest Farmer's Market to replenish the Grocery. I learnt to figure out the GPS and check the weather site before I leave Home. Google maps are extensively harassed and I always remind myself that I have to open the "right" door for the passenger seat in the car. Dress according to the weather or you might get embarrassed with a summer skirt and a shivering self. We learnt to push and pull our sleep time when the DST changes. We learnt to abandon metric system and think in miles, yards and pounds. The switches go the opposite way and the shaver, beater from India don't work here. 

And the First and memorable lesson was when we moved into the apartment -
Dish-washing and Dishwasher Liquid are different!! 

We used the former in our Dishwasher and need we say more - It was just plain lovely to have a bubble-filled Kitchen floor :)

But amidst all the new chapter and lessons, we had the most beautiful lessons as man and woman. Far away from our folks, days goes by where the only family we get to see and interact is each other - And they are the most memorable ones. Walking together, lugging Grocery bags, tallying bills, witnessing long summer days, lazy Saturday's, first drive and the sweetest of all - praying for each other and together...

With regards to Food, I love it spicy and he loves everything sugary. So we strike a balance and I try adapting some sweet stuff that I too can enjoy with him. Like these Crepe baskets which are fun to make and are low fat versions, which pairs well with the lovely fruits we get here and he can add on dollops of Ice Cream to his bowl to make it his own.

I have adapted the Crepe basket idea from the lovely Desserts book - "Desserts - All around the year" by Martha Day. It has a lot of interesting recipes and ideas. There is something for everybody in it. I adapted the recipe with a "Low Fat" take on it and had enjoyed them guilt-free!

Ingredients -

For Crepe Basket -

* Wheat Flour - 1 + 1/4 cups [Sifted twice]

* Milk - 1 cup [I used 2% Milk or Low Fat]

* Sugar - 1/4 cup [Increase to 1/2 cup, if you like it sweeter]

* Egg whites - 2 nos

* Cocoa powder - 2 tbsp [sifted]

* Grape juice - 1/2 cup [I used Welch's 100% Grape juice]

* Salt - a pinch

* Oil - 2 tbsp [For greasing]

For Fruits -

* Strawberry - 2 cups [hulled and cut into 4]

* Mandarin - 1 cup [sliced small]

* Sugar - 1 tbsp

* Mandarin / Orange juice - 3 tbsp

Cooking -

For Crepe Basket -

1. Sift twice the Wheat flour, Cocoa powder and salt into a large bowl.

2. Separate the Egg whites and add the whites into the sifted Flour mixture. Into it add the Milk, Sugar and Grape juice and mix well using a whisk and remove all lumps.

3. Grease a non-stick pan and let it get warm on medium-heat on a Stove. Once it gets warm enough, pour the Crepe mixture using a ladle or scoop and form a 4-5 inch circle. Give it 1-2 mins and reverse the Crepe to cook the other side as well.

4. Once done, remove the Crepe and let it rest on an Aluminium foil. Grease the pan and do the same to form similar Crepe for the rest of the mixture and let it rest separately on the foil.

5. After finishing the Crepe mixture, grease the reverse / bottom side of the Cupcake pan and place the Crepe on each mold separately. Place the Cupcake pan into a preheated Oven at 350 Degree Fahrenheit for about 10-15 mins. The Crepe's loose their moisture and starts holding the shape of the mold.

6. Remove from the Oven and let it rest for a few minutes, then carefully unmold them.
Note 
* If you like your Crepe soft and not crisp, you can forego Step 5 and 6.

For Fruits -

1. Mix the hulled and sliced Strawberries and sliced Mandarin in a bowl with the Sugar and Orange juice.

2. Refrigerate the Fruits for 30 mins and serve them cold over the Crepe Basket. They are best served fresh.

The Mandarin we got from the Farmer's Market were luscious and I must add, the Crepe basket making would be enjoyed by kids as well.

Cheers,