Every year, we aim to have a flipping good Pancake Day with freshly cooked pancakes for the family! There’s nothing like a warm pancake with lemon juice and sugar, is there?
Bliss!
So, as we gear up for Shrove Tuesday on February 13th, let’s take a look at this delicious tradition.
Did you know…?
- Pancake Day is the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent. It marks the last day to eat sweet treats before the traditional Lent fast.
- Shrove Tuesday was the day people were ‘shriven’, forgiven for the sins they confessed.
- It’s believed the first Pancake Day happened at Olney, Buckinghamshire, in 1445. The story says one woman was so carried away by making pancakes that she ran late to the mass carrying them.
- In Germany, the day is called ‘Fastnacht’ which translates as ‘eve of the fast’. In Iceland it’s called Sprengidagur which means ‘bursting day’.
- More than 50 million eggs are used in the UK on Pancake Day.
- The Guinness Book of World Records says Brad Jolly from Australia holds the record for the most flips of a pancake in one minute – 140.
- There are many different forms of pancakes, from traditional British pancakes and French crepes to stackable US-style breakfast pancakes and buttermilk dropped scones, which we call pikelets in these parts and they are called crempogs in other areas of Wales.
- Bretons have pancakes called galettes which are savoury and contain buckwheat. The filling includes ham, cheese, eggs, or mushrooms.
- Staffordshire oatcakes are a thick pancake made from oatmeal, flour, and yeast cooked on a griddle or bake stone. They’re generally served with savoury fillings like bacon and cheese.
What’s the difference between traditional pancakes and crepes and US pancakes?
American pancakes will often contain a raising agent that makes them much thicker than crepes or traditional British pancakes.
British pancake batter is thinner as we add more milk or water.
The US pancakes are obviously smaller than ours, too, as they’re often cooked on a griddle rather than a frying pan.
What are Britain’s favourite pancake fillings?
- Lemon juice and sugar
- Cheese and bacon
- Chocolate and banana
- Strawberry jam
- Cheese and mushroom
How do you eat yours?
Take a look at what we do with local seasonal ingredients in our sample menus.
