History Holiday foods Mardi Gras Celebration Specialty Foods admin 5 years agoNovember 24, 2021

Fat Tuesday also known as Shrove Tuesday and Mardi Gras & Pancake Races!

There is a very interesting history to the Shrove Tuesday pancake; one that goes back to the 1400’s, (about 1448), when a Housewife from Olney Buckinghamshire forgot that she needed to be at the church for the beginning of lent on what was called Half-holiday in Britain; which started at 11:00 with the ringing of the church bell. The lady was so busy making pancakes she lost time until hearing the bells and raced out of the house still carrying the frying pan and a pancake, all the while tossing it to prevent burning.

This supposedly created the tradition that still continues today in many places in Britain, and in the United States. The race is run over a 415-yard course that finishes up at the church doors; with very strict rules, you must run the course while tossing a pancake in the air continuously, and the must wear an apron and head-scarf. In 1950 people in Liberal Kansas joined in the race by challenging the town of Olney to see who could beat the best time. They created the “International Pancake Day” race between the two towns and they agree on a measured race course and compare times and skills to determined who is the winner overall. After the 2009 race Liberal Kansas was leading with 34 wins, compared to Olney’s 25. A similar race is run in the UK town of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire. Even the British House of Commons participate in a pancake race to benefit Rehab and the awareness of health, social care and education. These celebrations are all over the United Kingdom and even internationally in places such as Finland and Scandinavia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday

This year it is on Tuesday the 16^th; this recipe is from the 1950’s in a wonderful recipe book. Also known as Fat Tuesday, this is the day to use up all of your rich and fatty foods, that you give up for the season of Lent. It was tradition too have a feast and enjoy a few last moments of merriment; this would use all of the butter, cheese, fat pork, eggs, rich meats and other rich foods forbidden by the Church during a time of fast, praying and dietary restrictions. This lead up to Easter Sunday when the risen Christ was celebrated, and all the early spring foods could be eaten again. Think Mardi Gras, which is the last day before Lent, people go all out and party like crazy!

Pancakes where a tradition for this day because they used up things like eggs, butter, milk and sugar. There are all kinds of recipes all through the Middle Ages and Renaissance for them. I will include a few of my favorite pictures from the 1500’s and 1600’s that shows the foods eaten on this day.

A feast of pancakes and waffles sometimes stuffed with cheese

Girl with pancakes late 1500’s

Shrove Tuesday Pancakes

About ½ c. flour per person, sweet milk and buttermilk pancakes are lighter.

1 ¼ c. bread flour or 1 1/3 c. flour

½ t. salt, 3 t. B. P. (1 oz or a little more)

1 t. sugar, 1 beaten egg, 1 c. milk, 2 oz butter (melted)

Sift dry ingredients combine egg, milk (room temp) and short. Mix as for muffins – only till blended. Bake on ungreased griddle, heat griddle slowly.

Short = butter, B. P. = baking powder