Pancake Day / Shrove Tuesday

The long build up to Easter is called Lent. The day before Lent begins is called Shrove Tuesday. ‘Shrove’ means being forgiven for wrong-doings. It happens on a different date each year depending on when Easter is. This year Shrove Tuesday is today 28 February, 2017.

Another name for Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day. Long ago this was a day for feasting and having a good time. People went to church to confess the bad things they had done and would be ‘shriven’ or forgiven before the start of Lent. As rich foods, such as eggs were forbidden during Lent, one way of using them up would be to make pancakes.

Did you know that…?

The word shrove is past tense of shrive, a verb meaning to confess and be absolved of sin.

Rich foods such as meats, fats, eggs, milk and sugar were restricted during Lent.  Therefore, to use up all the milk, eggs and sugar, pancakes were made and have since become a tradition for celebrating Shrove Tuesday.

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday.  The term originates from the tradition of eating rich and fatty foods before fasting for Lent.

According to the Guinness book of World Records, the world’s largest pancake made measured 15.01m in diameter and 2.5cm thick.  The pancake weighed more than 3 tons and was created in Rochdale, Manchester in 1994 by Co-Operative Union, Ltd.

Pancake Recipe

You will need:

• 100g plain flour
• Pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 300 ml milk
• 1 tablsp. melted butter or sunflower oil
• Sweet Toppings

Method:

• Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
• Crack the egg into the well; add the melted butter or oil and half the milk.
• Gradually draw the flour into the liquid by stirring all the time with a wooden spoon until all the flour has been incorporated and then beat well to make a smooth batter.
• Stir in the remaining milk. Alternatively, beat all the ingredients together for 1 minute in a blender or food processor.
• Leave to stand for about 30 minutes, stir again before using.
• To make the pancakes, heat a small heavy-based frying until very hot and then turn the heat down to medium.
• Lightly grease with oil and then ladle in enough batter to coat the base of the pan thinly (about 2 tablsp.), tilting the pan so the mixture spreads evenly.
• Cook over a moderate heat for 1-2 minutes or until the batter looks dry on the top and begins to brown at the edges.
• Flip the pancake over with a palette knife or fish slice and cook the second side.
• Turn onto a plate, smear with a little butter, sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice or why not try some of our other suggestions for sweet and savory toppings.

Sweet Toppings:

• Sliced Bananas
• Berries
• Poached Plums
• Apples sautéed with butter and Cinnamon
• Lemon Curd and Crème Fraiche
• Maple Syrup
• Honey
• Apple Syrup
• Nut Butter
• Chocolate Spread
• Nuts and Seeds

Savory Toppings:

• Spinach
• Bacon
• Ham
• Cheese
• Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
• Bolognese Sauce
• Sautéed Mushrooms

Happy Pancake Tuesday to all! From Nanny Options

Have fun with this activity and we recommend adult supervision at all times

Browse other Arts and Crafts ideas from Nanny Options or keep up to date with us on Facebook.