So did you or didn't you?
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23393)
United Kingdom
February 9, 2016 1:36pm CST
Today is Shrove Tuesday the day before the start of lent or what many countries call pancake day. In France and some other countries it is known as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). The day before the beginning of Lent. A few countries have different traditions for this day which was supposed to use up all the fat, sugar and milk. In some countries they also give up meat for lent.
Traditionally many British households make pancakes and have them for a meal on this day. It is said that at one time it may well have been a pagan festival however records date back to the 12th Century.
In 1445 a lady who was making pancakes heard the church bells ringing so she ran to church still tossing the pancake to prevent it burning. Since then many villages throughout the country have pancake races.
So I can tell you that once I got home after feeding the cats I started to make some pancakes. It is so simple to make. Flour, egg and milk. Mix together to make a batter then pour a small amount into a pan coating the base after a few minutes toss the pancake so that it flips right over so the upper side is now on the base of the pan and finish off cooking it.
We traditionally serve it with either Lemon juice and sugar or golden syrup. For a twist I had put in some sultanas too. My pancakes were made rather like crepes whereas my wife makes them a lot thicker and adds coconut and sultanas.
Either way I have had my pancakes today. Did you make any pancakes today?
22 people like this
25 responses
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
Do you not celebrate Fastnachtsdienstag?
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
9 Feb 16
We will be having pancakes for supper, with butter and maple syrup.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
10 Feb 16
didn't get any this year sadly at least not on the right day
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
Must have been the chefs day off? You are too generous! 
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I didnt make any pancakes, but I like your idea of sultanas. Not so much the coconut. I like that story you told as well, had not heard it friend.
I like my pancakes like you do, thin like crepes.
My favorite is blueberry pancakes with whipped cream on top.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
9 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 Yes, I would have had an excuse to make them. You can get a big bag of frozen blueberries that are so fresh tasting over here at the market for around 7 bucks.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
Ooh I should have come to your house for pancakes!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
@TiarasOceanView Here we would get about 4 oz for around $4.5
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
11 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 We had friends last evening for dinner and I made more (I know it was Ash Wednesday 
), now no more cakes until my birthday.
), now no more cakes until my birthday.2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
If I had been there with you Anna I would have eaten your pastries!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 16
@LadyDuck Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for your Birthday Anna!
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
I did - we just have them with sugar and lemon - delicious.
I've just done a post on pancake day myself and was just checking that I wasn't repeating anything that someone else had said.
Mine concentrates on the pancake races, so that's ok. Yours is very interesting, so I'll put the link to it on my post.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 I made my first couple much too thin and they wouldn't toss properly. They were much better when I used a bit more batter.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
Thank you Janet. I like this tradition although my ones were quite thin. ( I made them in a wok!)
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
10 Feb 16
Yes, I made pancakes but I made them from buckwheat flour, mainly because I had never done it before and because I had some buckwheat flour in the cupboard and found a recipe for buckwheat pancakes (Galettes de Sarrasin) on the 'Net.
They turned out to be very good indeed. I made them not too thick so that they were somewhat lacy and full of tiny holes and the taste was slightly nutty and earthy, so I elected to fill them with smoked mackerel, soft cheese, a little horseradish sauce and chopped cucumber. I think that this may become one of my 'signature dishes'!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
OH that sounds delicious nice and savoury.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
My mother used to make them for us but that was the only time of the year we actually ever had pancakes. I know in the USA and Canada you eat them for breakfast sometimes.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
14 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 Lol...Can't have pancakes when dieting.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 16
@simone10 Not even a small crepe? Never mind wait till you have slimmed down to size 10 then you can eat as many as you like!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb 16
OH So I won't be dropping into your house for pancakes then!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
Great now I have had my pancakes. I hope you have some too!
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
9 Feb 16
I think of proper pancakes as being thin like crepes 
I've not had any today. I'm glad you prioritised and fed you cats first
I've not had any today. I'm glad you prioritised and fed you cats first 2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
Can you imagine if I had not fed the cats. Lordy I would have been in the dog house. As soon as I get in from work I switch the kettle on which gives me enough time to feed them first. I know the drill and I know my place.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
Quick treat yourself nip into the kitchen and make some!
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
9 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 I might before the week ends you know. I have not had some this year
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Feb 16
We've had our pancakes too. Vince likes to put the batter in the fridge for a while before making his. His are thin then he might put a savoury or sweet filling and roll them up with perhaps a sauce over them. We have them from time to time apart from Shrove Tuesday.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
My mum only ever made them on Shrove Tuesday although we sometimes have them. My wife although she does not drink likes to pour Cointreau over hers!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 We had guests on Shrove Tuesday and had and had peaches and ice-cream in pancakes with drambuie drizzled over them. Must try them with Cointreau next!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 Vince sometimes cooks his bacon with a little port. He asked his brother to bring him the port once from the bar and his brother said which one. When Vince said any bottle of port, his brother brought him a chocolate port. Vince didn't check, just used it. Slightly different taste to the bacon that morning.
1 person likes this
@crystalvisions (440)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
Yep I had some pancakes here in Scotland. For breakfast. I might have some later on again!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
OH well done you. I am not that organised enough in the mornings to make pancakes! Blimey you are well organised.
1 person likes this
@crystalvisions (440)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 16
@garymarsh6 Well I have to be organised because usually I have school to get to. Pancakes are a treat for me though.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
17 Feb 16
Good I hope you had them the traditional way with lemon juice and sugar rather than Maple syrup?
@Letranknight2015 (51523)
• Philippines
9 Feb 16
nope just a brownie, we don't really make pancakes here even though we could buy one. that makes think, i wonder why we don't make one. have a nice meal
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
9 Feb 16
Thank you. They are very simple to make. You would enjoy them!
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
10 Feb 16
nope, no pancakes, but i did take advantage of the "fat" part of fat tuesday... :-) I'll fast tomorrow!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
Well I am sure that whatever you had was nice!
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@Fleura (29129)
• United Kingdom
11 Feb 16
We had pancakes for breakfast, then Little One had pancakes for tea at nursery and Big One made and ate pancakes at Brownies! We al like pancakes. When I was growing up we pretty much only ate them on pancake day but these days we often have them for weekend breakfast.
I like the thin ones with sugar and lemon, or chocolate spread and banana, or fresh fruit and cream, or savoury fillings like cold meat and horseradish. But I also like the thicker Dutch style type incorporating chopped apple and eaten with bacon.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 16
Well I hope it has whetted your appetite and you will treat yourself to some!
