Shrove Tuesday, 4th March, is the last day before the long fast for the Lent period in many Christian churches.
The day is the day before Ash Wednesday and usually falls between February 3 and March 9. It has many names, including Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, the Tuesday of Carnival, and Pancake Day.
Pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. The liturgical fasting emphasized eating plainer food and refraining from food that would give pleasure: in many cultures, this means no meat, dairy products, or eggs.
In Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand the day is also known as "Pancake Day" as it is a common custom to eat pancakes as a meal.
I leave you a pancake recipe. Try it and have fun!
ONE-CUP PANCAKES
Makes 10 pancakes (serves 4)
1 large free-range egg
1 cup self-raising flour
1tsp baking powder (optional)
1 cup semi-skimmed milk
20g (¾oz) butter
Have the kids get a mixing bowl, crack the egg on the side of it, and put the egg in the bowl. If any shell gets in, they can use the empty eggshell to fish it out.
Next, let them fill a cup or mug of your choice with flour, then add that to the bowl. Toss in the baking powder, if you have some (it just makes the pancakes extra fluffy).
Fill the same cup with milk and add that too, with a tiny pinch of sea salt. Now show them how to use a whisk to mix everything till smooth.
Cover your bowl in clingfilm and put to one side. Now get your toppings ready from the ideas on the right.
Put a large frying pan on a medium heat. Get the kids to fry half the butter. Once it’s melted and starting to bubble, have them spoon the pancake batter into the pan so it’s roughly the diameter of an orange. They should be able to make 2-3 pancakes in the pan.
Cook the pancakes for 1-2 minutes, until little bubbles rise up to the surface. Show older kids how to use a fish-slice or heatproof spatula to carefully turn them, but you might need to do this for little children. Cook the pancakes for another minute or so, till golden on both sides.
When they’re done, transfer them to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Carefully wipe the pan clean with kitchen paper, then add the remaining butter and keep going until all the batter is used up.
Serve the pancakes according to the ideas on the right, or with a sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon.
(by Jamie Oliver)
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