"With Pancake Day 2014 around the corner, it's time to open those cupboards and start planning how you're going to whip up the best batch of pancakes in town.
Also known as Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday. The day before Lent commences, a time of abstinence, Pancake Day is the last day for all to indulge until Easter Sunday. It is the day to open your cupboards and clear them out of all tempting and sweet goods. So lets use up all the butter, sugar, and eggs to make some delectable pancakes that will savor with you through Lent.
Ever wonder where pancake races originated from? According to tradition over 500 years ago, a housewife in Olney heard the shriving bell while she was in the middle of cooking pancakes. In order to get to church in time, she ran there with her apron still on and frying pan in hand. To this day, pancake races are held all over England. The goal is to reach the finish line first while flipping and catching a pancake a certain number of times.
How will enjoy this delicious day? Here are some scrumptious ways to cook your pancakes this year. We all know the process of pancakes can get rather messy with flour, milk, and butter somehow managing its way into every nook and cranny of the kitchen surface. So make sure to keep yourself clear of the mess with a Victoria Eggs apron.
Chocolate and banana. For a super sweet and endlessly yummy taste, spread on as much Nutella as you please and top with sliced bananas.
For perhaps a healthier option, try toping your pancakes with sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes.
Grab an array of everyone's favorite fruits in order to please every member of the family. Scatter just enough juicy blueberries, drizzle maple syrup all over, and finally sprinkle powdered sugar on top to guarantee a hit with everyone. While blueberries are the most common, the sweet tang of any fruit, whether its strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries, will perfectly compliment the fluffy texture of pancakes.
For those who prefer a simpler palette but still crave a melt in your mouth flavor should try buttermilk pancakes. Buttermilk is the secret ingredient in the batter for simple yet mouthwatering pancakes. You'll end up with a batch of the lightest and softest textured pancakes that can't be beaten.
No matter what you're preference is for toppings, here's a recipe for basic but guaranteed delicious pancakes.
Ingredients:
- 125 g plain flour
- Pinch of salt
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 300 ml milk
- Light olive oil, vegetable oil, or butter for greasing the pan
Procedure:
- Put the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the center
- Pour the egg and a little of the milk into the well
- Whisk the liquid, gradually incorporating the flour
- Whisk in the remaining milk until the mixture become a smooth paste
- Grease a pancake pan or frying pan and heat until it starts to smoke
- Pour a little batter into the pan, tilting the pan until the base is coated in a thin layer
- Cook for 1-2 minutes until the underside is turning golden
- Flip the pancake and cook for a further 30-45 seconds until it is golden on the second side
- Slide the pancake out of the pan and make the remaining pancakes
Here at Victoria Eggs, we opted for the classic lemon and sugar approach. Here's the team making a mess in the kitchen and attempting to conduct the perfect flip. They may not look perfect but they sure were superbly delicious!
Whichever method of madness you may choose to concoct your batch of pancakes with, you will be sure to enjoy one of the most special and yummy days in England.
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