Prepping for Pancake Day with Robert Dyas
Pancake Day is upon us! For those looking to pig out tomorrow (Tuesday 13 February 2018) it’s time to start practicing your flipping skills.
Pancake Day, otherwise known as Shrove Tuesday, is historically a time of Christian celebration before the onset of Lent. Originally seen as an opportunity to use up rich ingredients before this fasting season began, making pancakes has since become an integral part of the day’s festivities.
In some towns and villages across the United Kingdom ‘pancake races’ have even become an annual event. This tradition is said to have originated in 1445, when a housewife from Olney, Buckinghamshire, was so busy making pancakes that when she heard the church bells ring for service she ran all the way there with her frying pan in hand, still flipping away. Participants in the present-day pancake race in Olney wear a scarf and apron during the race in her honour.
For centuries, the humble pancake has endured – in part, because of its adaptability. The classic combination of lemon and sugar is a common favourite in British households, however there are a huge range of unusual and tasty twists that the pancake has to offer. For example, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s lemon crepe cake takes this topping to a whole new level! This mammoth stack of pancakes has twenty-one layers and is topped with candied lemon for a tangy and tart taste.