Pancake Day! (and a recipe)

Happy Shrove Tuesday!  Also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. Also known as... Pancake Day!

If you're asking yourself what in the world I am talking about - here's a little background info.  In Christianity, Shrove Tuesday (known as Mardi Gras - or "Fat Tuesday" in some parts of the world) is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten Season - a period of fasting, penitence, personal reflection, and prayer leading up to Easter. So, you could say that Shrove Tuesday is the last hurrah before a religious period of fasting and self-denial. 

Now that we have that straight - What do pancakes have to do with all of this?? 

It's not entirely clear, but the general belief is  that people needed some way to use up all the eggs, butter, sugar, etc that they would not be eating during the fasting of Lent.  And making big batches of pancakes seems a pretty good way of doing that.  Over time it became a whole thing.  And there you have it - Pancake day!

If this has you suddenly craving pancakes (which is exactly what it did to me last weekend as I was planning this post)  Here's my super simple pancake recipe to help you out:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons oil

1. Mix dry ingredients together
2. Add milk, egg, and oil. Mix until most of the lumps are gone (it doesn't have to be perfect) If your batter is a little too thick at this point - at more milk a little at a time until it is the desired consistency.  If it's too thin, add a little more flour.
3. I cook my pancakes on an electric griddle, but you can use a skillet on medium heat.  Cook first side until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook until done.
4. Enjoy!

The number of pancakes you get from this recipe will depend on how large you make them.  But it makes enough for me and two grown men (the Man of the House and male offspring).  We like them with maple syrup and some fresh berries on the side.