In England, (and the rest of the UK) the Tuesday before lent is known as Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday). On that day it is traditional to eat pancakes, toss pancakes and take part in pancake races. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday and is therefore the final day before the commencement of Lent, a Christian festival leading up to Easter Sunday. Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between 3 February and 9 March.

The origins of eating pancakes arose from Christians who observe Lent and wanted to use up all the rich foods in their cupboards. During Lent eggs, sugar and butter were not allowed, so these ingredients were used to make pancakes.

Today everyone celebrates Pancake Day regardless of religion.

A traditional English pancake is very thin and is served immediately from the frying pan with sugar and lemon...but these days people put what they like on them...Nutella for instance is delicious!.

TRADITIONAL ENGLISH PANCAKES

220g/8oz plain flour, sifted
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 pint of milk
50g/2oz butter

  1. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl with a sieve held high above the bowl so the flour gets a airing.
  2. Make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it.
  3. Whisk the eggs making sure any bits of flour from around the edge of the bowl are mixed in with the egg.
  4. Gradually add small quantities of the milk, still whisking
  5. Continue whisking until the batter is smooth, with the consistency of thin cream.
  6. Melt the 50g/2oz of butter in a non-stick frying pan.
  7. Spoon 2 tbsp of the melted butter into the batter and whisk it in.
  8. Let the pancake mix stand for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
  9. Pour any left over butter into a dish. This will be used later to grease the frying pan after each pancake has been made.
  10. Make sure the non-stick frying pan is really hot before adding about 2 tbsp of the batter mixture.
  11. As soon as the batter hits the hot pan, tip the pan around from side to side to get the base evenly coated with batter.
  12. Carefully lift the edge of the cooked pancake with a palette knife to see if it's tinged gold as it should be.
  13. Flip the pancake over with a pan slice or palette knife to cook the other side....serve with a topping of your own choice...Hmmm

    Have a great day gals

10 comments:

  1. WE will be eating panckaes for our dinner tonight Happy. I think I will try your recipe - it sounds super yummy!

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  2. Just a coating of sugar on mine please, can't wait to tuck later today.
    Lisa

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  3. Hi Happy,
    Thanks for telling us (and reminding me) about Pancake Day. Sadly, not everyone does celebrate it. There are some children in Harry's school whose parents are members of a strange religion and when there is anything going on at school that they don't believe in, they take the children home! Now where did I put those eggs, flour, lemons...
    Hen x
    P.S. Love the banner at the top of your blog. So cheery.

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  4. Happy Pancake Day to you too mmmm yummy Pancakes for tea it is - we eat alot of them in this house sugar and lemon delish!

    Love your blog and your style thanks for brightening up my day!

    Sarahx

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  5. I've never heard of pancake day, but I like it! maybe today when I do out to lunch, I will order pancakes!!
    love that first picture ! so bright and cheerful!
    hugs
    vivian

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  6. hey there sweets,
    yummy!!! i adore pancakes.i will have to try these.
    oxoxo,
    jessi

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  7. I had a huuuge helping of crepes this morning! Happy pancake day!

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  8. we are definitely going to start this tradition in our house!

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  9. I hope you all had a wonderful day! We bought some ready made varieties...but they weren't very nice!! so I got the frying pan out and made these! I always know when they are done!!! I always set the smoke alarm off!! hehehe!

    Love Happy xx

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  10. We had pancakes but did cheat and go the ready made ones!

    Victoria xx

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Thanks for leaving a comment...I really do appreciate your kind words xx