Pancake Day…21st February 2023…Aka Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday…Lacy, thin crepes or Japanese pancakes…?

Good Morning…the sun is shining and we are looking forward to our pancakes after dinner tonight…Shrove Tuesday is also a festive day celebrated in France on Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday), which marks the close of the pre-Lenten season. The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent in preparation for fasting and abstinence…

Pancakes now are big business and popular around the world both savoury and sweet…my preference is for a nice thin crepe-like pancake however fluffy American pancakes that are stacked and loaded are favoured by many …blueberry and maple syrup or chocolate stuffed pancakes with caramelized bananas and scattered with hazelnuts I could happily eat an occasional treat however on Shrove Tuesday we stick to our traditional thin lacy pancakes with sugar and lemon/lime…

Who doesn’t like a nice thin, lacy pancake with sugar and lemon? Pancakes are eaten almost all over the world in one form or another so although plain and simple is my favourite I don’t mind some of the other versions on occasion.

I am also quite good at tossing them much to the surprise of the kids although not sure how I would fare in some of the pancake races which are held throughout the Uk and tossing them while running…lol….that would be a sight to behold…

The first recorded pancake race was way back in 1445 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. Since 1950 Olney has competed against women of Liberal, Kansas, the USA in an international race.

Tradition declares that the race was run first in the year 1445, pancakes at the time being a popular dish, receiving royal favour. It was run on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, and the whole day was given over to a festival of celebration, pranks and pastimes. It is not known where the original start line was but the finish line was at the Church door. The winner has to bang on the door with her frying pan…

Did you know????

The largest pancake was created in Rochdale, Manchester, the UK in 1994, by the Co-Operative Union, Ltd. Measuring 15.01 m (49 ft 3 in) in diameter and 2.5 cm (1 in) thick, the pancake weighed 3 tonnes (6,614 lb) and took more than just a frying pan to flip over!

In total, Brits use an unbelievable 52 million eggs on Pancake Day. That’s 22 million more than any other day.

The most flips anyone has ever done with a pancake is 349 flips in two minutes. That’s ‘flipping’ good’!

We all have our preferences for pancake toppings but the weirdest pancake toppings have to be ketchup and mustard, please…Nooooo! peanut butter and ice cream, coco pops and cream…I just love maple syrup on mine or lemon..simples is best!

The Guinness World Record for the most pancakes served in eight hours is 34,818.

William Shakespeare was also a pancake lover! It is reflected in many of his plays. When Shakespeare was alive Shrove Tuesday is much as it is today – that is people ate plenty of pancakes!.  Dinner was a midday meal instead of evening, and the pancakes would follow their main meal. The Tudors enjoyed heavily spiced foods and regularly included ale or beer as ingredients instead of water. They ate very rich foods, and their pancakes could have been enriched with rose-water, sherry, eggs, ale or butter – or a mixture of them all

In France and the United States, Pancake day is called Mardi Gras which means ‘Fat’ or ‘Grease Tuesday’.

My Simple Pancake batter recipe.

 

  • 100 gm flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 300 ml of milk
  • Oil/ butter for frying
  • Lemon wedges to serve
  • Sugar to serve

Let’s Cook!

Put your flour, eggs, milk, pinch salt in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Chill in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.

Using an omelette or crepe pan add a knob of butter and when melted add some of your mix to the pan and roll about to cover the bottom…I like my pancake thin so don’t use too much mix others like theirs thicker but personal choice.

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Cook until nicely golden and flip over and cook the other side …keep warm in the oven while you are cooking all your pancakes.

Serve with a good squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of sugar.

That is my way, plain and simple but it is your opportunity to use your favourite toppings…

What do you top your pancakes with??? Please tell me in the comments…

Pancakes are made all over the world and vary somewhat… if you missed my post on how they are made here in Thailand then I have added the link for you to enjoy these were made down in one of the local homes here and they kindly let us take the photos…It is a family affair both young and old play their part…I found it fascinating…

https://blondieaka.wordpress.com/2017/03/26/traditional-handmade-thai-pancakes-khao-gle-at/

Pancakes drying

Or these lovely oat pancakes

Maple Walnut Banana Pancakes…

banana maple syrup pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 3/4 of a cup of rolled oats
  • 2 large organic eggs
  • 1 tsp of baking soda
  • 1 tsp of maple syrup
  • Chopped banana, blueberries, walnuts and maple syrup to serve.

Put the banana, oats, eggs, baking soda and maple syrup in the blender and blitz until smooth and well combined.

Heat your pan and add some mix cook for about 2 mins each side I did find they cooked quite quickly so watch you don’t burn them…

Serve with sliced banana, blueberries or fruit of your choice, walnuts and maple syrup…They were actually very yummy…

I didn’t have gluten-free oats so mine were not gluten-free but still healthy and I had no maple syrup extract so substituted maple syrup, the walnuts I caramelised and I didn’t have blueberries…and I cooked mine in grass-fed butter… I will make them again and next time will add blueberries as they will add that touch of tartness…

However, if you eat Gluten-free use Gluten-free rolled oats and cook in a non-stick pan…

I am a fan of Japanese cakes they are very light and not so sweet I also love the Chinese ones again very light…I came across this recipe but haven’t yet tried it but I will they look souffle-like and light and very little oil/fat is used and they are steamed rather than fried…

If you love pancakes I hope you have found some here to tickle your tastebuds …Enjoy!

Thank you for joining me today enjoy your pancakes as always I look forward to your comments and appreciate any shares x

36 thoughts on “Pancake Day…21st February 2023…Aka Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday…Lacy, thin crepes or Japanese pancakes…?”

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      I like maple syrup not tried or seen Biscoff spread and not a fan of nutella although the grandkids love it… Jam I am either or Liz I like jam on crusty bread but prefer other toppings on pancakes but what a lot of choices something to please everyone 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      It would indeed be great fun Rebecca you could always organise your own though…Just saying! and yes ice cream with pancakes I could eat that biut know I shouldn’t lol x

      Liked by 1 person

  6. wendysquilting

    Nice thin pancakes served with real maple syrup is a favourite in Thunder Bay it seems…they are also served with fruit and whipped cream! My Grandsons favourite is lots of whipped cream and folded like a taco…he is 12 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      I remember the Jiffy lemon I think they still do them I remember seeing them somewhere but it generally limes all the way here…and of course lovely thin pancakes withlemon/lime and sugar beat all the rest..I’m with you on that one -smile-

      Liked by 1 person

  12. beetleypete

    I used to love pancake day as a child. Once I started shift work in my late 20s, it never happened again, and since moving to Norfolk, we haven’t bothered with it. I do occasionally order pancakes on a restaurant menu though, (sweet or savoury) and my all-time favourites were eaten in Amsterdam. The Dutch really know how to serve up delicious pancakes.
    Best wishes, Pete. x

    Liked by 2 people

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Mine always expect pancakes and I like to uohold tradition …Not tried the Dutch version of pancakes I believe they are baked instead of fried a bit like a Yorkshire pudding x

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Darlene

    Happy Shrove Tuesday. I make pancakes every other Sunday as is a tradition in our family. They are nice thick fluffy Canadian pancakes served with fruit. Although in Canada they often serve them with bacon, we don’t do that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      Thank you, Darlene..I only really make them on Shrove Tuesday or if someone has a hankering for a pancake but not regularly although I do like pancakes with fruit 🙂 x

      Liked by 1 person

    1. CarolCooks2 Post author

      I generally only have one Robbie whereas the boys eat 2 or 3 I just like to keep my mums and nan’s tradition alive. Cinnamon sugar sounds nice I might try that with the lemon…my mum sometimes made apple pancakes with cinnamon sugar,,,I think the bacon is more of an American tradition I know when I have visited my cousins pancakes were served with bacon and maple syrup but I do have admit it was a nice combination however I confine my pancake eating now to Shrove Tuesday I don’t eat as much as I used to or cook pancakes as often as I used to when the children were younger …I hope Terence is continuing to improve, Robbie x

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