Tuesday, February 12, 2013

IT'S SHROVE TUESDAY AND THAT MEANS PANCAKES

The tradition of using up fat and eggs before the start of Lent is timed perfectly with my crop of Meyer lemons. It means pancakes for dessert tonight. A once a year treat! Out comes the special pan: my cast iron frying pan which is used for nothing else but making these delicious little rolls of sugary lemon delight.


When I lived with my parents we always had pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. I don't think my mother ever ran down the street tossing pancakes but that didn't stop her from making the best pancakes. A sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice and there you have it, perfection.
The recipe is simple:
4oz flour
pinch of salt
1egg
10oz milk
Mix sieved flour with egg and a little milk until combined then gradually add the rest of the milk. Whisk well. Heat pan until very hot, grease and wipe (I now use Pam)  then pour in scant ¼c  of batter, twirling the pan until the bottom is covered. Turn when the first side is browned. Toss if you dare!

Sprinkle with sugar, a few squeezes of lemon juice, roll and sprinkle with more sugar and lemon.


In the village of Olney Bucks. England, they take Pancake day more seriously. The race has been run there since 1445. To enter the race you must wear an apron and a scarf and toss your pancake once at the beginning and once at the end of the 415yd race. The race ends at the church with contestants attending the service. Why aren't we doing this in Austin as part of our Keep Austin Weird program!
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9 comments:

  1. Dig, Grow, Compost, BlogFebruary 13, 2013 at 4:28 AM

    Ha, I think that would be a perfect Austin tradition! I've never had lemon on pancakes but now I think I'll give it a try. Especially since I have some Meyer lemons too. :-)

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  2. Jenny WoolfFebruary 13, 2013 at 5:54 AM

    Ah, no - I missed Shrove Tuesday! I love pancakes with lemons - those nice thin ones not the doughy little ones.

    Although after my first visit to France I also got to like crepes Grand Marnier!:)

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  3. CWPickensFebruary 13, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    I've never heard of this type of pancakes. They resemble crepes, don't they? Looks delicious!

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  4. Linda/patchworkFebruary 13, 2013 at 8:57 AM

    That race, does sound like an Austin 'thing'....haha

    Your pancakes sound delicious. I like the thin kind.

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  5. Lady of LaManchaFebruary 13, 2013 at 12:02 PM

    Austin, with its "Keep Austin Weird program", sounds like great fun!

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  6. KarenFebruary 13, 2013 at 5:34 PM

    When I was a kid, we had pancakes on shrove teusday. These days though I just forget about it. I must make a note, it's lovely to eat pancakes once a year.

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  7. JayneFebruary 13, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    My dad was always the one who made pancakes at our house on Shrove Tuesday. Haven't had them in decades now, I do miss them. As much as I enjoy American pancakes and syrup, there's nothing quite like the sugary, lemony taste of our English pancakes.

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  8. sweetbayFebruary 13, 2013 at 9:04 PM

    I didn't realize English pancakes were like crepes but that makes sense! They look delicious.

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  9. UnknownFebruary 17, 2015 at 9:41 AM

    Sounds great! What time shall we arrive ;)

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