Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Day 13th February 2024

What Is Shrove Tuesday and Why Do We Eat Pancakes?

Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, which traditionally marks the start of lent.  The date changes each year because it is determined by Easter. The word shrove derives from the the practice of 'shriving', an old term for confession.  Before the the start of Lent, Christians would confess and receive forgiveness from sins so that they could enter Lent guilt-free.

Many people celebrate by eating pancakes before they give up such indulgences for the following 40 days leading up to Easter.  In France they celebrate Mardi Gras which translates to "Fat Tuesday" and again refers to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of Lent.

Everyone loves pancakes, so we thought we would provide you with a foolproof traditional recipe and some recommended kitchenware to assist you with perfecting those pancakes this year.

Traditional Pancake Recipe:

• 100g plain flour
• 2 large eggs
• 300ml milk
• 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil, plus a little extra for frying
• Lemon juice & caster sugar to serve (optional)

Method:

• Put 100g plain flour, 2 large eggs, 300ml milk, 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil and a pinch of salt into a bowl or large jug, then whisk to a smooth batter.

• Set aside for 30 mins to rest if you have time

• Set a medium frying pan or crêpe pan over a medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper.

• When hot, cook your pancakes for 1 min on each side until golden, keeping them warm in a low oven as you go.

• Serve with lemon juice and caster sugar, or your favourite filling. 

Once cold, you can layer the pancakes between baking parchment, then wrap in cling film and freeze for up to 2 months.

Our Recommendations

The key to perfect pancakes is a really good, non stick frying pan.  Or, if you mean business you could invest in a purposely designed crepe or pancake pan. Here are some of our recommendations for basic pancake day equipment:

Judge Pancake Crepe Pan 22cm

Create perfect pancakes everytime with this exceptional crepe pan. It's super easy to clean and easy and comfortable to hold with a heat resistant handle.

Le Creuset Toughened Non Stick Shallow Frypan 26cm

This superior shallow frying pan is an everyday essential and with 20% it’s a real must have.
It has a tough, PFOA-free non-stick surface inside and out, and a special hardened body to create a durable and long-lasting pan that can be used on any heat source.
The easy release non-stick interior and exterior surfaces are easy to clean, and are tough enough to withstand use of metal utensils.

Morphy Richards Total Control Hand Mixer

This Total Control hand mixer provides a quick and easy solution for mixing batters, cakes and more. Equipped with two stainless steel beaters, the powerful 400W motor gets to work in minutes. It has 5 different speed settings to tackle any task you throw at it. The stainless steel beaters and dough hooks are easy to clean, dishwasher safe and will provide optimal performance.

Taylors Eye-Witness Silicone Whisk

Availaible in a choice of fun colours, these non-scratch silicone whisks and heat, odour and stain resistant. They are safe to use with non-stick cookware and are perfect if you prefer to use a more traditional method for mixing your batter.

Making pancakes is still a much loved tradition in the UK so why not treat the entire family with some delicious pancakes, and yourself with one of our fabulous products. You can browse our full Pancake Day Collection here.

Happy Pancake Day!

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/easy-pancakes
https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/food/pancake-day-when-is-shrove-tuesday-9178