It’s Shrove Tuesday or Pancake day, we usually have a big stack, the individual record in our house was 7 !  The question is how do you like them, Sugar & lemon? Golden Syrup and Lemon?  maybe butter & syrup?  Nuttella is good for the odd one but you couldn’t live off it !! On the savory side the classic Yorkshire Ham and Cheese, I used Dale End Cheddar from Whitby but I’m sure Wensleydale, Swaledale or even Sparkenhoe Red Leicester would have worked as well…

When is Shrove Tuesday? Pancake Day 2019 is the 5th of March and in 2020 February the 25th.  As Shrove Tuesday is the last day of feasting before Lent the dates moves with Easter,  also know as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras.

French Crepes usually come as a sweet dessert made with wheat flour and with sweet toppings such as sugar and lemon or as savoury Galettes made with buckwehat flour and containing savoury fillings, cheese, ham, etc.

A simple British Pancake recipe

Sift 100g of plain flour with a pinch of salt and, making a well in the centre of the flour break in an egg (free range and really fresh of course) and beat with a wooden spoon.

Gradually add 300ml of milk, beating and drawing in the flour from the sides of the bowl until the batter is smooth.  Or you can mix in an electric blender, adding the wet ingredients then the dry.

Heat a heavy based frying pan with a little Yorkshire butter, when it starts to smoke it’s hot enough and you can add the batter mix, just enough to cover the base, swirling the pan around to get the mixture to thin itself out to cover the pan base.  the thinner the pancake or crepe the better! Cook for one to two minutes and then either toss ! or use a spatula or fish slice to flip the pancake over.  serve immediately or stack between greaseproof paper and pop back in the bottom oven of the Aga.

If your adding cheese & Yorkshire ham or other fillings, then add to the pancake after youv’e flipped it over the first time and gradually fold the sides over the contents to form a package like an envelope.  For fruit soften in butter before adding. Try these other variations, Banana & Chocolate (Nutella), apple & cinnamon, ratatouille & cheese, cheese & tomato, or anything else that takes your fancy.  What’s your favourite?