It's Pancake Tuesday - how do you have yours?

I can't believe it's Pancake Tuesday, time flies when your having fun they say! As I find myself at home today with lots of company as all 3 children are here, we are going to have a fun afternoon at the cooker.

In days of old, Irish girls were given an afternoon off on Pancake or Shrove Tuesday to make their batter and the eldest, unmarried girl would toss the first pancake. Success meant she would be married within the year!!!!

Check out this fab picture taken from the Bodiam Pancake Race, they all look so happy and would certainly inspire you to get the old frying pan out, maybe that's something I could look into organising for next year with the neighbours, looks like fun....

So, here is my recipe for simple pancakes and if you don't have the time to make your own, Odlums  and Betty Crocker have lovely bottles made up for you, just have to add water/milk and shake.

This should make 10 nice sized pancakes and you will need the following;

250g of plain flour
2 eggs
400ml fresh milk
Pinch of salt (optional)
Olive Oil

To make your batter;

Sift the flour, and salt if using into a bowl and make a well in the middle.
Break your eggs into the well with a little of the milk and start mixing, keep adding your milk gradually and mix until you have a nice smooth batter.
Then you need to heat your frying pan, when nice and hot add some oil - I usually brush the oil on so that it's not too greasy.
Pour on some batter and swirl around the pan and cook it on a low heat for about 1 minute before flipping over for another 30 seconds or so.
You will know when you are ready to flip when the edges curl and the underside is nice and golden.

Then they are ready to be topped, we bought loads of toppings at the weekend, I like the old fashioned Sugar and Lemon juice but we also have Butterscotch sauce, Nutella, Banana's and Mixed Berries and lots of Vanilla ice cream.

What's your pancake plans for today?