Yesterday, for those unaware, was Shrove Tuesday. In America, we know it as Mardi Gras or more literally, Fat Tuesday. Here in England they have another name for this last day before the start of Lent. It’s called Pancake Day. “Of course,” you must be thinking. Alright, maybe not....but once you learn why pancakes are used to celebrate this day you may want to adopt the tradition in your own home.
Centuries ago religious parishioners were urged to give up luxury foods such as meat, dairy and sugar for the forty day fasting season of Lent. It’s supposed to be a time of reflection, prayer and penance. (I think that if you ask any chocoholic who has given up their cacao tree derived obsession for Lent, they will tell you how that sacrifice drove them straight to prayer!) One way of preparing for this time of abstinence was to use up stores of flour, sugar and fats in the making of.... you guessed it, pancakes!
When my neighbor first mentioned Pancake Day, I thought she was joking. Then she patiently explained the true history behind it. Thought to originate in the town of Olney, Buckinghamshire, the story goes that a woman was making pancakes when she heard the church bells and realized she was going to be late for the Shrove service. She ran all the way to church still wearing her apron and clutching a frying pan. In 1445, the town began holding an annual Pancake race where contestants must wear aprons and run while flipping a pancake in a pan at the same time. The race is still held today.
Our neighbor graciously invited our family over so we could experience the custom first hand. The English have their own ways of preparing and serving this treat which differs a bit from what Americans are used to. First, the pancakes are more like crepes. Very thin without a cake-like thickness we usually associate with pancakes. Secondly, while the pancakes can be topped with syrup and fruit, the English way is to squeeze a slice of lemon on them and then sprinkle with sugar. We tried it this way and loved it. Nutella, a chocolate spread, was also offered as a topping. When I asked for the recipe, she directed me to this link:
We also thought a savory version, using spinach, goat cheese, and sun dried tomatoes as a filling for each pancake would be excellent too. Would love to see your comments below if you have any other fun ideas and ways of making these.
A day dedicated to pancakes...what could be yummier?
