Shrove Tuesday is a Christian festival. It is held the day before Lent, which lasts for 40 days. During Lent Christian families were expected to give up luxuries, which included meat, fish, fat, eggs, milk and sugar. So, the day before Lent started, they used up those things that would not keep. Making pancakes was a good way to use milk, eggs and fat with the simple addition of flour.

FAB FACT On Shrove Tuesday, many towns have pancake races. They are said to have originated when a housewife heard the bell calling her to church for Lent whilst still making pancakes. She ran to church still wearing her apron and holding pan.

FAB FACT! The biggest pancake ever was made in Rochdale. It was 15 metres in diameter, weighed three tonnes and had an estimated two million calories!

Pancake recipe INGREDIENTS 110g self raising flour 250 ml milk 1 eggs pinch salt 20 g fat 1 lemon sugar for sprinkling METHOD 1.Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl, making a well in the centre. 2.Break the egg and pour into the well. Gradually beat the egg and flour together, adding the milk little by little until creamy consistency has been reached. 3.Beat the batter for a few minutes to aerate it, and leave to stand for an hour or so if possible. 4.Heat the frying pan with a little fat and pour enough batter to cover the area needed. 5.Cook until the top is dry, and then either toss or turn the pancake and cook the other side until brown. 6.Turn out onto a greaseproof paper, sprinkle with sugar and lemon juice as desired and roll up before serving.

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