Pancake Day

Origins of Pancake day:

Tomorrow is Pancake Day, also called a Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras which is the day of indulging in delicious pancakes, before the start of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. Lent is a period of fasting so all the fats in the house need to be used up. That’s why we make pancakes because the recipe uses up fatty foods like butter, milk, and sugar and fasting means giving up sweet things too.

Pancake races:

On pancake day some people also hold pancake races where the runners have to carry a frying pan and flip over a pancake while running. The most famous pancake race takes place at Olney in Buckinghamshire but there are races all over the country. According to history, the tradition started, in the 1400s when a woman in Olney was busy cooking pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and she heard a church bell and ran to the church in her apron, holding her frying pan with a pancake in it. The Olney pancake race is now world famous. Today its quite common for people to get involved with Pancake Race to raise money for charities. Why not give it a go yourself?

How to make pancakes:

Ingredients

• 100g plain flour

• 2 large eggs

• 300ml milk

• 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil, plus a little extra for frying

Method

Put 100g plain flour, 2 large eggs, 300ml milk, 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil and a pinch of salt into a bowl or large jug, then whisk to a smooth batter.

Set aside for 30 mins to rest if you have time, or start cooking straight away.

Set a medium frying pan over medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper.

When hot, cook your pancakes for 1 min on each side until golden, keeping them warm in a low oven as you go.

Serve with your favourite filling.

Enjoy!