13/02/2024

Celebrating Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day in many parts of the world, is a beloved and festive occasion celebrated in various cultures. This day, which falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of the Lenten season in the Christian calendar. While pancakes may be the star of the show for many, there's much more to Shrove Tuesday than meets the eye.

10 Shrove Tuesday facts

• Origins of the name: Shrove Tuesday is another name for Pancake Day. "Shrove" comes from an old word that means confessing your sins and being forgiven by a priest. It's all about getting ready for Lent!
• When is it?: Always held on the Tuesday before lent, the date changes each year, but it's always 47 days before Easter Sunday
• Why pancakes?: Back in the olden days, people would make pancakes on Pancake Day to use up rich foods like eggs, milk, and sugar before they started fasting during Lent
• Pancake ingredients vary: Depending on where you are, pancakes might be made differently. In some places, they're thin like crepes, while in others, they're fluffy and thick like American pancakes!
• Pancake races are a thing: In some places, people have pancake races on Pancake Day! They run while flipping pancakes in a frying pan and are often organised to raise money for charity
• Global celebrations: In some countries, like Brazil and Italy, Pancake Day is part of a big party called Carnival. In France the festival is called Mardi Gras, which means 'Fat Tuesday'
• Alternatives to pancakes: In Iceland, it's customary to eat salted meat and peas on Shrove Tuesday, while in Poland, people enjoy paczki, a type of filled doughnut
• Historical snack: Pancakes aren't just a modern treat. People have been flipping them for centuries! Even the ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed pancakes
• Egg-citing times: In the UK it's estimated an extra 30 million eggs are used on Pancake day - 52 million in total! 
• Pancakes in pop culture: Shrove Tuesday has inspired famous works such as William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and Pieter Bruegel the Elder's painting "The Fight Between Carnival and Lent" depict scenes from Shrove Tuesday celebrations
• A time to share: Shrove Tuesday is a time for families and friends to get together, cook delicious food, and enjoy each other's company. It's a day of laughter, fun, and, of course, plenty of pancakes!

Fun Pancake Day recipes

Shrove Tuesday is one of those kids cooking activities where the whole family can join in – with guaranteed delicious results. It's a great opportunity for kids to really get creative in the kitchen, whether helping to make them, or putting together fillings.

Pancake fillings can be sweet or savoury, plain or adventurous. Don’t be afraid to wrap in their favourite foods and try new things.

Here’s a perfect pancake recipe which will help you make a great batch. Now all you need are some pancake filling ideas.

These are 10 of the best, in our humble opinion:

Chocolate, peanut butter and banana

Use a thinner base – as this packs out your pancakes and makes them very filling.

Mix peanut butter with two tablespoons of icing sugar, two tablespoons of milk and a handful of chocolate chips. Spread the mix over pancakes. Top with chopped banana, then fold and sprinkle with a few chopped nuts or more chocolate chips.

Blueberries and maple syrup

Stir in a handful of blueberries to your pancake mixture before cooking them up – then top your pancakes with a generous helping of maple syrup and more blueberries before serving. Simple.

Mango and honey

The great thing about pancake recipe ideas is that you can adapt them to your favourite tastes. And this one can include just about any fruit you like. They all go great with honey. Mango is a superfood and a great source of vitamins A, C and K.

Simply stack your pancakes with cubed, ripe mango pieces and drizzle with honey. If you like, serve with a spoonful of Greek yoghurt.

Lemon and sugar

There’s nothing like the old favourite – a sweet and zesty favourite. But you can jazz it up with some fresh fruit if you feel like being a little more adventurous. Simply squeeze your lemon juice onto the pancake and sprinkle a spoonful of sugar over the top.

Cranberry and orange

This is a great recipe for using up any left over cranberry sauce from Christmas. Warm 8 tablespoons of cranberry sauce in a pan, adding the juice and grated zest of half an orange. Spread generously onto your pancakes and fold over.

If you’re in the mood for something a little more savoury, pancakes can be great as a lunchtime treat. While cooking these can be fun activities for kids, they may need a little more help in the kitchen from adults – since sweet pancakes are simpler to make.

Tomato and mushroom

Heat some oil in a frying pan and cook 250g button mushrooms until tender. Add 250g of halved cherry tomatoes and cook for a couple of minutes. Add two tablespoons of milk and a handful of pine nuts then gently cook until combined. Divide your pancakes between two plates, then spoon over the mixture for a delicious lunch pancake meal. 

Egg, ham and cheese

Warm a pre-made pancake in a pan with half a teaspoon of butter. Sprinkle over some grated cheese and some torn up slices of cooked ham. Break an egg into a bowl and then carefully slide it onto your cheese and ham, before folding the edges of your pancake over the egg. Cover the pan for a few minutes, to allow the heat to cook the egg through.

Pizza pancake

Cook four pancakes and set aside.

Heat one small chopped onion in a tablespoon of oil for five minutes, then add 300g minced beef and cook until browned. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 6.

Spread each pancake with tomato pasta sauce, from a jar. Place some sliced ham on top and some mince. Sprinkle with diced pepper and grated cheese. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

Smoked salmon and crème fraiche

Spread each pancake with crème fraiche and season with salt and pepper, before topping with a thin layer of smoked salmon. Roll up and serve with salad leaves.

Savoury chicken

Make four pancakes and set aside.

Cut 2-3 chicken breasts into small pieces and heat on the hob until cooked through. Add chopped mushrooms and onions, then pour in a can of cream of chicken soup. Combine together and simmer on a low heat for 20-25 minutes.

Spoon the mixture into your pancakes, fold and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Place into an oven dish and place under the grill until the cheese has melted.

Whether you prefer sweet or savoury - or want to go all out and do both, we hope you find some inspiration here!