THE ORIGINS OF THE FESTIVAL
"Shrove Tuesday" was the day in which everyone was expected to go to church to confess their sins and be "shriven" ready for the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. During the period of Lent the devout were expected to practice complete abstinence, including not eating meat, and so frugal housewives, mindful of the waste of perishable foodstuffs if they were not eaten before the Lent fasting commenced, would cook up all the dairy produce and make pancakes - filling and nourishing, to fortify their families for the lean days to come.

Obviously, the most important aspect of Pancake Day is - pancakes! These bear little resemblance to pancakes as the Americans know them, and are more closely related to French crepes.

Pancakes, English-style: (Scotch Pancakes are something entirely different!)
4 oz (100 g) plain flour
a pinch of salt
1 egg
half pint (300 ml) fresh milk
melted butter or oil for frying

Method: Sift flour and salt into a bowl and break in the egg; gradually add the milk, beating to form a smooth batter – this is much easier in a blender or food processor but do not over-beat. The batter will improve with standing – cover the bowl and put in the fridge for half an hour.
Put a small amount of butter or oil in a frying pan and heat but do not let it burn. Pour off any excess and pour in a small amount of pancake batter – tilt the pan to cover the bottom and make only a thin layer. Shake the pan and when the pancake moves freely, toss or turn and cook the other side.
Served traditionally with lemon and sugar, but equally delicious with golden syrup, jam, fruit, ice cream or anything which takes your fancy!

Note : the first pancake will be a disaster – it always is. It is known in our house as “one for the dog” and serves to season the pan. Don’t worry, all the rest will cook OK and come out in one piece.

Pancake-racing is one of the more unlikely events on the British sporting calendar and takes place in many towns and villages each Shrove Tuesday. The object of the race is to get to the finishing line first, carrying a frying pan with a (cooked) pancake in it whilst flipping the pancake a pre-decided number of times. The skill lies not so much in the running of the race but in flipping - and catching - the pancake, which must be intact when the finishing line is reached.