Shrove Tuesday is on it’s way!

Pancake Day is on 21 February this year and we hope you’ll be using some of our Pancake and Waffle Baking Mix to create some Shrove Tuesday creations – particularly if you suffer with allergens.

 

What is the meaning of Shrove Tuesday?

As with many other European Christian traditions, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day started out as a pagan celebration.

Before Christian times, the Slavs believed that the change of seasons was a struggle between the God of vegetation, fertility and springtime, Jarilo and the evil spirits of cold and darkness. The Slavs believed they had to help Jarilo, and for a week they celebrated the arrival of Spring, and a large part of the celebration involved the making and eating of pancakes.

The shape and warmth of the cooked pancakes symbolised the Sun, and the Slavs believed that by eating pancakes, they were themselves absorbing the power, warmth and light of the sun.

Later on when the Christian tradition evolved, Shrove Tuesday always fell 47 days before Easter Sunday, which is why the date varies each year.

The tradition of eating pancakes started in the

16th century. As pancake day falls the day before Ash Wednesday, when fasting is supposed to begin for the 40 days of Lent, the idea of eating more plain food was encouraged. People avoided food that would give pleasure. A very different motivation than during pagan times.

The name Shrove Tuesday comes from the Anglo-Saxon Christians going to confession the day before Lent, to be shriven (absolved) of their sins. A bell would be rung to call people to confession, and it became known as the Pancake Bell. In some places, it is still rung today.

 

 

Pink Pancakes with White Chocolate

Method:

1. Add all the wet ingredients into a large bowl and combine.

2. Into this, mix the Creative Nature Pancake & Waffle mix, using a whisk.

3. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, cut up the strawberries depending how many you wish to add.

5. Melt the white chocolate ready to pour over pancakes when they are cooked.

6. Heat a frying pan with a drizzle of oil, place on a medium heat.

7. Add a ladle of pancake mix to your pan.

8. Cook on one side for 90 seconds flip pancake and cook on the other side for 30 seconds.

9. Add to a warmed plate and repeat until you have used all your mix.

10. Stack your pancakes, and decorate, drizzling white chocolate over the top and add raspberries and strawberries.

 

Pancake Pizza

Method:

1. Add all the wet ingredients into a large bowl and combine.

2. Into this, mix the Creative Nature Pancake & Waffle mix, using a whisk.

3. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

4. Heat a frying pan with a drizzle of oil and put on a medium heat.

5. Add a ladle or two of pancake mix to your pan, depending how thick you want your pizza base.

6. Cook on one side for 90 seconds.

7. Turn the heat down slightly to med/low, flip the pancake and cook on the other side for 3 minutes until cooked through thoroughly.

8. Add to a warmed plate and spread tomato topping over the base, sprinkle the vegan mozzarella and add topping to your taste.

9. Pop into the oven on a baking tray for 10 minutes (or until the cheese is golden brown).

 

Pink Doughnuts

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°

2. Add all the wet ingredients into a large bowl and combine.

3. Into this, mix the Creative Nature Pancake & Waffle mix, until combined.

4. Evenly distribute the mixture in the doughnut moulds and place in the oven for around 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them, they can turn golden brown very quickly.

5. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and remove them from the doughnut moulds.

6. Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with the water and a couple of drops of the food colouring.

7. Dip one side the cooled doughnuts into the icing and then place on a plate to set.

8. Repeat if you want the icing to be thicker.

9. Add sprinkles before the icing sets.

**Good news is that this baking mix is also now available on Ocado **