By Prince William Living Publisher Rebecca Barnes
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Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is a traditional holiday celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent in the Christian calendar. This day is a time for people to indulge in pancakes before they give up certain foods or vices for the 40-day period of Lent.
Pancakes have been a staple food for centuries, and they are enjoyed by people worldwide. The history of pancakes can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans, who would make thin, crepe-like pancakes made of flour, eggs, and milk. In the Middle Ages, pancakes were a popular food during Shrovetide, a time for feasting and indulgence before the start of Lent.
Today, Pancake Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, with different traditions and customs. In the United Kingdom, pancakes are the focus of the day, with people participating in pancake races, where they race down a street while flipping pancakes in a frying pan. The most famous of these races are held in the town of Olney, where it has been a tradition since 1445.
In France, Pancake Day is known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday and is celebrated with feasting, parades, and parties. In some parts of the United States, particularly in Louisiana, Mardi Gras is also celebrated with parades and festivities, which can last for several weeks.
Making pancakes is easy and uses just a few ingredients:
– 1 cup all-purpose flour
– 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– ½ teaspoon baking soda
– ¼ teaspoon salt
– 1 cup buttermilk or regular milk
– 2 large eggs
– 2 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for cooking
Optional Ingredients: Vanilla extract for extra flavor (1/2 tsp.), cinnamon for added spice (1/4 tsp.), blueberries, or chocolate chips for added texture (1/2 cup).
Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to combine with a spoon or whisk.
2. In a separate bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk or milk, eggs, and melted butter until evenly combined.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spoon until just combined—do not overmix! It’s ok if there are still some lumps in the batter, as that is normal. If using any optional ingredients like vanilla extract or cinnamon, now is the time to add it in.
4. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and melt some butter in it to coat the bottom of your pan before pouring in the first pancake’s worth of batter. Depending on how thick you want your pancake, you can pour more or less batter into your skillet – about ¼ cup works well for most pancake sizes.
5. Cook each side of the pancake until golden brown – this should take about 2 minutes per side; if adding any additional ingredients like blueberries or chocolate chips, now is the time to sprinkle them over each side during cooking so they’ll get melted/warmed up slightly before serving! Transfer cooked pancake onto a plate while you repeat steps 4 & 5 with the remaining batter until all pancakes have been cooked and ready to serve warm with your favorite toppings like syrup or honey!
No matter how you celebrate National Pancake Day, it’s sure to be a delicious holiday full of fun memories! So gather your friends and family, fire up the griddle, and get ready to enjoy some scrumptious pancakes. Happy National Pancake Day
Rebecca Barnes is the Publisher of Prince William Living magazine and Brides & Weddings magazine. She is a lifelong resident of Prince William County and a volunteer with OWL VFD. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being a Grandma, visiting Walt Disney World, blogging at Sightseeing Sidekick, reading, and sleeping.
