No, not that sort of batter! Today is Pancake Tuesday  – officially Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and the beginning of fasting and abstinence in the Christian religion. In households of old, all the rich foods like eggs and milk had to be used up before Lent began. Pancakes were made, and the tradition has stuck. Religious or not,  you’ll no doubt be flipping out today, tossing and turning and enjoying a feast of golden pancakes topped any way you want them. For the basic pancake batter, you’ll need

100g plain flour

pinch of salt

1 fresh free range egg

300mls milk

1 tbsp melted butter

Sift flour and salt into a bowl.  Make a well in the centre. Add the egg and a splash from the milk and start to whisk into the flour. Gradually add the remaining milk, whisking all the time, till the batter is smooth. Add the melted butter.

Heat a lightly oiled pancake pan. Add just enough batter to cover the base of the pan thinly, swirling as you go. Cook for a few moments, till the base is set, then toss or flip to cook the other side. Stack on a warmed plate and reserve, while making remaining pancakes. Put greaseproof or cling film between the cooked pancakes as yo u go, to prevent them sticking together. Keep them warm.

TOPPINGS:

Traditional topping is a good squeeze of fresh lemon and some sugar sprinkled over.

Try crisp rashers of Irish bacon and maple syrup or a drizzle of Highbank Orchard Syrup. Yummy.

Irish farmhouse Ice Cream, chocolate sauce and chopped nuts are delicious.

Natural yogurt and mixed berry compote made from frozen Irish summer berries are good for a light dessert.

Goat’s cheese and wilted spinach is a good savoury combo for a main course.

Rolled pancakes with an Irish ham and cheese filling, baked in the oven in a creamy white sauce sprinkled with breadcrumbs – absolutely divine.

Smoked salmon  and sour cream with chives make an elegant serving suggestion

Bananas in caramel sauce with whipped cream is like Banoffie Pie in a pancake!

These are just a few to get you going. We’re sure you can think of your own ideas. How do you like yours? Happy Pancake Day!