With Shrove Tuesday (21st February 2012) fast approaching, our thoughts are turning to creating that perfect pancake to help celebrate Pancake Day the traditional way.
So to help you make this year’s batch the tastiest yet, here are a few tips to see you through:
1. For the creamiest of consistencies, always measure your ingredients precisely and mix them with a large whisk to add air to the batter
2. Heat your frying pan for two or three minutes before adding butter to the pan to avoid burning and impairing the flavour of your pancakes
3. For a thin, crepe-style pancake, add two tbsp. of batter to the hot pan and spread evenly around the pan with the back of your spoon or ladle
4. Cook for 30 seconds on each side, flipping or turning in between, dependent on how energetic you’re feeling!
5. Add the topping of your choice – a drizzle of PLj Lemon Juice and a sprinkling of sugar is a traditional favourite – and enjoy!
Ingredients for the perfect pancake (makes 6-8 pancakes in an 18cm pan)
110g sifted flour
1 egg
100ml milk and 50ml water
50g butter, for frying
To serve: PLj Lemon Juice and a sprinkling of sugar
Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre of the mixture and break the egg into it. Whisk the egg together with the flour, and while continuing to whisk gradually add the milk and water until you have created a smooth batter. Add 2tbsp of the batter to your hot pan, evenly spread and cook for 30 seconds on each side. For a traditional taste, add a splash of PLj Lemon Juice, a sprinkle of sugar and enjoy!
An invigorating support to calorie-controlled diets, PLj is a blend of lemon juice and is rich in vitamin C – a 25ml serving contains at least 75% of the recommended daily intake and just 9 kcals – yet is free from all artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners.
With approximately 20 servings per bottle, PLj is the easy way to enjoy real lemon juice, but without the mess or hassle of chopping and squeezing. PLj is available from Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Morrisons, Holland & Barrett and all good health food stores priced £2.29 (RRP) for 500ml.
A few facts about Pancake Day
· Pancake Day is known as ‘Shrove Tuesday’ in the UK, and falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, or the first day of Lent
· The day is known as Pancake Day because pancake recipes were traditionally made to use up stocks of flour, milk and eggs, which were forbidden during the abstinence of Lent
· The word ‘Shrove’ is derived from the Old English ‘shrive’, meaning to ‘confess all sins’. On Shrove Tuesday, people would go to church and be ‘shriven’ ahead of the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday
· In the UK, the term ‘shroving’ was a custom in which children sang or recited poetry in exchange for food or money
· Meanwhile, ‘Lent Crocking’ was a term used to describe a custom whereby children would knock on doors asking for pancakes – and throw broken crockery at the doors of those who declined their requests!
· Pancake races are held around the UK on Pancake Day. One of the most famous takes place in Olney, where according to local folklore, in 1445 a woman of Olney heard the shriving bell while she was making pancakes and rushed to the church, frying pan in hand. Participants of the now world-famous Olney Pancake Race must be local housewives and wear an apron and hat or scarf when taking part!
· Pancake Day is celebrated differently around the world. In Brazil, Pancake Day is known as Terca-feira gorda and is the final day of the carnival in Rio De Janeiro while in New Orleans the day is marked by the Mardi Gras carnival