Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras

In many households across the land, the last Tuesday before Lent is known as Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. In my household, it was known as the only day of the year that my family and I would have pancakes for supper. We would usually have sausages with them, but since I didn't really like sausages, my grandmother (Memere) would usually cook me up some bacon or fry up some bologna.

I remember asking my grandmother why we needed a special occasion to eat pancakes. She gave me an abbreviated version that I can't really recall. So in the absence of that memory I did a bit of googleling and found out what it's all about, in a nutshell...

The last Tuesday before Lent has been known as Shrove Tuesday. Traditionally, it was a day for Christians to confess their sins and be absolved by a priest before the beginning of Lent. It was also a day to rid the house of the rich foods that you were supposed to give up during the Lenten period — foods like milk, eggs and fats.

The rich Shrovetide pancakes were eaten as a symbol of self-indulgence before the sacrifices of the fast. The pancakes were fried in butter or fat and served flat or rolled and sprinkled with powdered sugar and topped with preserves or doused with alcohol.

Speaking of pancakes, my 'sistah' Kerstin has an awesome recipe for Feather Pancakes...and no, feathers are not one of the ingredients. I think she told me once that this was her Swedish grandmother's recipe. Here it is, you should try them, you'll be glad that you did:

1 slightly beaten egg
1 cup of milk
2 tbs of oil
1 cup of flour
pinch of salt
2 tbs baking powder
2 tbs sugar

Combine egg, milk & oil. Add dry mixed ingredients. Beat until smooth. Bake on griddle.

WARNING: If you choose to make this recipe and eat it yourself in one sitting, keep in mind that the pancakes WILL expand after consumption. I made that mistake once and thought I was going to explode.

Here are a couple pictures of Grady and his dad, Mark, enjoying the Feather Pancakes...





A couple of happy customers....