TOMORROW is Shrove Tuesday!
It's also often just called Pancake Day in the UK.
Last year I sadly forgot Shrove Tuesday - shame on me.
I didn't get around to making delicate English pancakes - similar to French crêpes,
not thick and heavy like American pancakes - until after the traditional
celebration which is held on the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.
Shrove is from the English word shrive which means to obtain
absolution for one's sins by way of confession and penance.
Of course you can enjoy eating pancakes any day. I made some last week for
a dessert treat after a bowl of soup when we skipped a heavy entrée.
Shrove Tuesday pancakes are a tradition which started as a
way to use up rich ingredients including butter, milk, eggs which were not eaten
during Lent.
The more you do something the easier it becomes, and making a pancake batter
is simple. Pancakes are one of life's enjoyments, for children and grown ups,
and not only on Shrove Tuesday but on rainy days, for breakfast, a luncheon,
or at teatime and of course a dinner time dessert. The ingredients we just
about always have on hand - flour, eggs, milk and butter. I suggest using a
good butter and rich milk. The lazy way is to whiz everything in a blender but you
then miss the pleasure of gently whisking the batter by hand to pale gold
smoothness in your favorite bowl. Plenty of recipes can be found online for
these traditional pancakes - try different versions and will soon find your favorite.
I use my mother's of course!
Whether you serve them folded or rolled it's your choice.
At their simplest, and probably their best, just sprinkle with little sugar and
squeeze fresh lemon juice over. Delicious!
Make some English pancakes soon. I'll be cooking for
special company this Shrove Tuesday and pancakes
are on the menu for dessert!
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