Pancake Day / Shrove Tuesday

12-02-2018 | Category: General News

 What is a pancake and where does it come from?

The pancake has a very long history and featured in cookery books as far back as 1439. The tradition of tossing or flipping them is almost as old: “And every man and maide doe take their turne, And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne.” (Pasquil’s Palin, 1619).

A pancake (or hotcake, griddlecake, or flapjack) is a flat cake, often thin and round, and cooked on a hot surface such as a griddle or frying pan, often frying with oil or butter. In Britain, pancakes are often resembling a crepe.  In North America, pancakes are similar to Scotch pancakes or drop scones. Archaeological evidence suggests that pancakes were probably the earliest and most widespread cereal food eaten in prehistoric societies.^[2]

The pancake’s shape and structure varies worldwide. A crêpe is a thin Breton pancake of French origin cooked on one or both sides in a special pan or crepe maker to achieve a lacelike network of fine bubbles. A well-known variation originating from south-east Europe is a palacinke, a thin moist pancake fried on both sides and filled with jam, cheese cream, chocolate, or ground walnuts, but many other fillings—sweet or savoury—can also be used.

Pancakes may be served at any time of the day with a variety of toppings or fillings including jam, fruit, syrup, chocolate chips, or meat (bacon!), but in America they are typically considered a breakfast food. In Britain, they are associated with Shrove Tuesday, commonly known as “Pancake Day”, when, historically, perishable ingredients had to be used up before the fasting period of Lent.

Where ever you are enjoy your pancake.