Is it “Pancake Tuesday” or is it “Mardi Gras”? It is time to Shrive? Yes Shrove Tuesday has many names and alas like so many other Christian traditions has lost its place in our worship calendars.
Shrove Tuesday’s name is derived from the act of Shriving – meaning to seek absolution or indeed be absolved. The day before Ash Wednesday – the start of Lent, when Christians forgo luxuries and live a simple life a long established ritual. There are similar rituals in other faiths, and the copycats like “Dry January” or even “Veganuary”.
Shrove Tuesday was the last day when you could gorge yourself before going lean! That’s where the pancake tradition comes from. Having a good old carb up to see you through luxury-drought. Unfortunately, today many will stockpile, and not seek absolution through personal denial.
Some of us who are trying to balance the temptation of the food cupboard, fridge, and takeaway menus with controlling and ultimately slimming down, know what denial is and how temptation can lead to destruction.
So, I offer my fakeaway Pancake which my best guess is 2.5 SYNs per cake.
Ingredients
- 50g self-raising flour
- 50g wholemeal or wholegrain flour
- 2 small eggs, separated
- 150ml skimmed milk
Method
- Sift the flours into a bowl or wide jug and tip any bits in the sieve back into the bowl. Add the egg yolks and a splash of milk then stir to a thick paste. Add the remaining milk a little at a time so you don’t make lumps in the batter.
- Whisk the egg whites until they stand up in stiff peaks, then fold them carefully into the batter – try not to squash out all the air.
- Heat a non-stick pan over a medium heat and pour in enough batter to make a pancake about 10 cm across. Cook for just under a minute until bubbles begin to pop on the surface and the edges are looking a little dry. Carefully turn the pancake over. If it is a bit wet on top, it may squirt out a little batter as you do so. In that case, leave it on the other side a little longer. Keep warm while you make the remaining pancakes. Serve with your favourite healthy toppings.
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Tags: Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday, Slimming World, Wholemeal