Posted on 02/16/2007 4:15:48 PM PST by snugs
Shrove Tuesday is the term used in United Kingdom,, Ireland, and Australia to refer to the day after Collop Monday and before Ash Wednesday (the liturgical season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday). In these countries, this day is also known as Pancake Day, because it is customary to eat pancakes on this day.
The reason that pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent is that it was the start of the traditional 40 days of Lent liturgical fasting, during which only the plainest foodstuffs were eaten. Therefore, rich ingredients such as eggs, milk, sugar and flour are disposed of immediately prior to the commencement of the fast. Pancakes were therefore the perfect way of using up these perishable goods, besides providing a minor celebratory feast prior to the fast itself . Though the Church of England celebrates Lent and often has lent services etc actual 40 days of fasting is not usually practised nowadays.
The word shrove is a past tense of the English verb "shrive," which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by confessing and doing penance. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving (confession) that Anglo-Saxon Christians were expected to receive immediately before Lent.
Shrove Tuesday is the last day of "shrovetide," which is the English equivalent to the Carnival tradition that developed separately out of the countries of Latin Europe. In countries of the Carnival tradition, the day before Ash Wednesday is known either as the "Tuesday of Carnival" (in Spanish-speaking countries, "Martes de Carnaval," in Portuguese-speaking countries, "Terça-feira de Carnaval" or "Terça feita gorda") or "Fat Tuesday" (in French-speaking countries, "Mardi Gras," in Italian-speaking countries, "Martedì Grasso").
2-4 servings
8 pancakes
1 cup flour
1 pinch salt
1 egg
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tablespoon oil
Sift flour into a bowl.
Add salt and stir with a hand whisk.
Add egg and slowly add milk while stirring.
(batter will be more runnier than American pancakes).
Refrigerate for an hour.
Put a little oil in a medium sized frying pan and warm over medium heat, after coating bottom of frying pan, pour out extra oil.
Pour 1/4 of a cup of batter in the pan and tilt so the batter covers the bottom of the pan.
Flip pancakes after about 1 1/2 minutes.
Repeat steps 4-6 until batter is gone.
Serve with lemon and sugar, fruit, or Lyle's golden syrup.
Pancake Races
On Pancake Day, pancake races are held in villages and towns across Britain. In 1634 William Fennor wrote in his Palinodia:
And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne."
But the tradition of pancake racing had started long before that. The most famous pancake race, at Olney in Buckinghamshire, has been held since 1445. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan (skillet) and race to the finishing line tossing the pancakes as they go. As the pancakes are thin, some skill is required to toss them successfully while running. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times.
The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes, that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.
Howdy!
Hi Kate - how is life treating you?
My goodness that that looks rich and why is there lettuce with pancakes ?
LOL
I dont know, must be one of those french things.
Never particularly like French crepes they taste sort wheatie to me I prefer British or American pancakes myself.
I don't know if it is a Scottish or not but the ones I occasionally make are the "fatter" kind, like the one the bunny is wearing!
I like them hot with butter melting over them, or Lyle's Golden Syrup and a cup of coffee, yummm......
Hello, people. :)
I'm making buckwheat pancakes with honey for Tuesday.
Lyle's Golden Syrup
"Out of the strong came forth sweetness"
Yes in England we refer to them as Scottish pancakes or drop scones and we normally eat those cold and butter or with a little golden syrup on them.
Often when making them they also have some sugar in them I will find my mum's old recipe from a 1930s cookery book.
Yes that is what I think of as American pancakes which are similar to our Scottish Pancakes (drop scones) but lighter and fluffier.
Hello ilovew :)
I have just re read my post and I said an inch not a pinch of salt LOL.
Very similar to the recipe my mum gave me, I use 8 ozs SR flour and add a table spoon of syrup but not any salt.
Tend to be a bit slap dash about amounts and just add more milk if the mix is to thick. They get eaten almost as soon as they are made! Much better that shop bought ones.
Absolutely at one time when I was little it became a bit of a tradition for Sunday tea to have them I used to almost beg mum to make them :o).
Hey. :) How are you?
What is the weather like in your fair isle today?
Fine thanks, and just finished a glass of wine and some fruit soda bread so feeling finer ;)
Fruit soda bread sounds interesting is that similar to fruit loaf?
I dont think my gall bladder could deal with one now.
The full english breakfast consists of (but not limited to): eggs (fried or poached), sausages, bacon, haggis (sometimes), toasted bread, grilled tomatoes, fried or grilled mushrooms, hash browns (optional), and of course baked beans.
Not great weather today cloud and rain, but at least the wind has died down, it was blowing a gale yesterday! Mind you it was nice and sunny the day before that.
I prefer fried tomatoes to grilled ones I know not healthy but much better taste picking up the flavour of the bacon and mushrooms.
Also I prefer my bread fried not toaster again picking up the flavours from the bacon and mushrooms. If the fat is really hot it really crisps the bread and it tastes IMHO devine.
Of course you will not find a pancake in sight LOL
Yes, same thing but in a soda bread instead or err... regular bread :)
Lol that sounds good. I wish I could have some wine now. It might make me feel better...
I sometimes order an "all day breakfast" in a local cafe. It's been several months since I last had one.
I am drinking a cup of tea and eating some pumpkin bread that I made earlier.
Oh, thank you. That's so nice. :)
Tea! That's a great idea. I should make some tea. I keep forgetting I have it...
Don't think I have had pumpkin bread, sounds nice.
I might have to go off to bed soon as it is very late, lets see nearly 2 in the morning!
I had a nap earlier
night, night all
got tea?
Lol yep, I finished it.
word...
How was your day?
good...
you? ;)
Jebus! That's a breakfast!
Eh...not that great. But I'm feeling better now. ;)
that's good...;)
I'm happy you're here...;)
Me too. ;)
...makes working a little more fun ;)
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