Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is traditionally the day that Christians gave up meat, fish, eggs and milk for Lent. Lent is a time set aside to remember the Lord Jesus and his own fasting and praying in the wilderness before he was crucified. There are many that do not give up all that they did in past history but there are many that still choose to give up something in the hopes to help them focus more on God.

Eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday arose out of the fact that wasting is a sin, and all those foods being given up for Lent would need to be eaten before the season began. Pancakes use up lots of eggs and milk and so Shrove Tuesday also became known as Pancake Tuesday.

As a little girl I recall churches hosting pancake suppers on Shrove Tuesday. I would love to say that the tradition of pancakes for shrove Tuesday has been observed every year for years but there have been a few different times for one reason or another that the tradition was not followed. Pancakes are not hard to make at home. The mix for the pancakes is easy to make, store in fridge and cook when ready.

Pancake recipe:

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt (I use about half a teaspoon)
3/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (I use half fat créme fraîche)
1 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup butter, melted

In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, milk, and melted butter. Add all at once to the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Cook on a hot, lightly greased griddle or in a frying pan. 

Serve with maple syrup.