Image by Kavinda F from Pixabay

Today is Shrove Tuesday, AKA Pancake Day.

Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent begins, with Ash Wednesday the following day.

Many thanks to Wikipedia for the following information.

The name “Shrove Tuesday” comes from to shrive, meaning absolution following confession. Christians traditionally visit their church on Shrove Tuesday to confess their sins and cleanse their soul before the start of Lent.

Indulging in food that might be given up as a sacrifice for the upcoming forty days of Lent, is associated with Shrove Tuesday.

The Mardi Gras celebrations held, most famously in New Orleans, are a part of this. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, so called because of the eating of rich food that will be given up for the duration of Lent.

Many people still observe the day through eating pancakes.

On Shrove Tuesday, churches burn the palms distributed during the previous year’s Palm Sunday liturgies to make the ashes used during the services held on the next day, Ash Wednesday, when a penitential service is held.

The priest puts a cross of ashes (usually from the palm crosses burned the previous day) on the foreheads of the penitents, saying  “From dust you came and to dust you will return.” This is a reminder of mortality and the need to repent of sins.

Lent is a time of remembering Jesus withdrawing to the Wilderness before His arrest and crucifixion. Here He fasted, was tempted by Satan, but held firm.

Christians fast in memory of this event.

But on Shrove Tuesday people eat foods they are going to give up during the 40 days of Lent.

This has come down to us as eating pancakes made from, nowadays, flour, eggs and milk.

Maybe you would like to try something different for your pancakes this year. Often they are served sweet, with sugar and lemon, chocolate spread or other sweet things. My Grandma served a delicious savoury pancake that is also excellent for vegetarians.

Here is the recipe,

Savoury Pancake filling

(Grandma’s recipe)

Pancakes made however you like them, or you can buy unsweetened ones.

Ingredients

125g large open capped mushrooms

2 onions

2 tomatoes

½ x1 teaspoon of sweet herbs (I would guess that this is similar to Herbes de Provence, since you seem to be no longer able to get sweet herbs. I have used Herbes de Provence quite successfully.)

Method

Fry the onion a little and add the mushrooms and tomatoes.

Continue cooking until all vegetables are done, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot on pancakes, rolled up. 

Are you interested in historical recipes? If so, you might be interested in Viv’s Family Recipes.

This recipe book is the culmination of many years of cooking and baking by the author. She is passionate about food quality and believes that home cooked is best.

She has inherited a recipe book from her mother’s eldest sister and a small one from her grandmother that contains recipes from the turn of the 19th century. She has also included many recipes from other family and friends from many places and times.

It is an interesting look at how our diets have changed over the years as well as our cooking methods. Many of the older recipes are done by long steaming. There are also some interesting ‘Hints and Tips’ from long ago.

The book also has some interesting comments about the people whose recipes appear in the book.

Like to explore more about these recipes? Then click the button below.

Do you have any favourite pancake recipes? Let us know in the comments.