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Monday, 12 February 2024

Pancake Day 2024 : Why not enjoy some low carb ones!

The UK has a fairly unique tradition known as “Pancake Day”, which is on the 13th of February in 2024, and comes the day before Lent begins. This day is otherwise known as “Shrove Tuesday” and is 47 days before Easter Sunday. In other cultures, Mardi Gras takes place on this date. Pancake day is an observance only, not an official bank holiday.

In times gone by, people felt the need to use up all eggs, butter, and sugar just before Lent because these items were to be given up during the fasting period. Therefore, it made sense to make pancakes out of the ingredients, and so the tradition of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday was born.

There are also pancake races held in England this time of year, the most famous one taking place in Olney, Buckinghamshire. You have to flip a pancake in a pan while racing hundreds of yards and not dropping it on the ground. The other big tradition for pancake day is the annual Shrovetide Football matches.


well Eddie and I don't plan to flip our pancakes
but we may enjoy a few low carb ones, as detailed below

Low Carb Crepes / Pancakes



These crepes/pancakes are virtually carb-free and are very easy to make, although you use ricotta cheese they do not taste of cheese.

Ingredients
200 Grams of ricotta cheese
3 eggs
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
A splash of milk

Method
Mix the cheese, eggs and cinnamon into a small mixing bowl - add a splash of milk if the mix is too thick to run freely.
Place a small knob of butter into a (frying) pan, I use a small omelette pan 8". Heat the butter and spoon in 3 table-spoons of mix.
Fry until firm then turn over and cook for one minute or until the crepe is starting to brown.
This mix makes between 6 and 8 crepes/pancakes.
Allow to cool and fill with cream cheese and finely chopped spring onions or smoked salmon and asparagus tips, whatever you like.
Roll up the crepe and enjoy.
Great at any time and very good for the lunch box or picnics.
Also great warmed up with some low carb berries and double cream.
Or why not serve with a slice of lemon - gently squeezed over the crepes.

Will you be enjoying pancakes?

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and it is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e., use a reliable meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

39 comments:

Tom said...

...they sound interesting.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Will Olney win again this year, or will Liberal, Kansas win back bragging rights? Thanks for sharing this with us as we prepare for Shrove Tuesday, dear Jan. I also love pancakes, but won't be flipping mine, either!

Deanna said...

Hi there. I use to live in Liberal, Kansas where they have INTERNATIONAL PANCAKE DAY racing against Olney, England each year. Seeing your post jogged my memory that Pancake Day is coming up.
~d

Norma2 said...

Jan, a very interesting recipe for those who can't eat carbs. I found the idea of not using flour very novel, also ideal for celiacs. I'll prepare them.
Greetings from Argentina

HappyK said...

Didn't realize it was pancake day but that is what we had for breakfast! :)

My name is Erika. said...

I was thinking about pancakes today, and I want to say thanks for giving me a good "reeason" for making some tomorrow. I hope you have some and enjoy them.

Kay said...

I guess it's called Fat Tuesdays here. My daughter in Chicago went out to get Paczkis ahead of time since she works tomorrow. There is a big Polish population in Chicago. And here in Hawaii many people buy malasadas which started, I believe because of the immigration of the Portuguese here in the islands.

DeniseinVA said...

Wonderful! I will try this, thank you Jan. All the best!

CherryPie said...

Normally we would hav pancakes but this year the day has fallen wrong for us to indulge in this delicacy.

Carola Bartz said...

Ha, I learned something new - pancake day! The race while flipping pancakes sounds like great fun! In Germany we celebrate Mardi Gras on Shrove Tuesday, but it's actually the "smaller" of the Mardi Gras days, with the biggest one being Rose Monday.
We don't eat pancakes often, but if we do I make them like my mom used to do (which is called "Swedish pancakes" here). They are certainly not low carb.

Chatty Crone said...

Very interesting Jan.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I have done pancakes with cottage cheese.

Margaret D said...

A pancake day, well I never!

Christine said...

Thanks Jan

Angie's Recipes said...

They sound and look wonderful!

Linda said...

Our church which does not celebrate Shrove Tuesday had a preacher's wife who said we could not eat any protein with our pancakes served. She forbade it. Even when I explained that Tommy and I were diabetics, she said we could have no milk or meat. Is that the usual thing with Shrove Tuesday?

Breathtaking said...

Hello Jan :=)

If only I had some ricotta cheese, I would have made them for lunch! :=( Many thanks for the recipe.

Little Wandering Wren said...

This is a new pancake recipe for me, what a good idea. I had forgotten it was pancake day so thanks for reminding me too!
Wren x

eileeninmd said...

Pancake Day sounds yummy to me!
Thanks for sharing!
Take care, enjoy your day.

kathyinozarks said...

This was tinteresting about the pancake races-thanks My husband really enjoys pancakes so I make them for him once or twice a month-mine have carbs though Happy Tuesday Kathy

jabblog said...

i used to enjoy flipping pancakes but never make them now - can't make pancakes without eggs!

Donna said...

Thank You!!
I'm so tired of almond flour...
I learn SO much from you...
hugs
Donna

Back2OurSmallCorner said...

We shall be enjoying our pancakes this evening. We don't have them often but I do have a fun emoji pan to make them in.
Thank you, Jan for this weeks recipes which I am adding to my growing list from you. I might change them a little to suit our family but they are a great inspiration.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

It's amazing that you can make these without flour. Such a wonderful low carb treat!

R's Rue said...

I love pancakes.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

Jeanie said...

Rick makes great pancakes but not often (which is probably a good thing.) These look tasty, fun and easy!

CJ Kennedy said...

Maybe we will have pancakes for supper!

linda said...

These sound lovely I may just try them.

Mary Kirkland said...

Sounds good to me.

Lowcarb team member said...

INTERNATIONAL PANCAKE RACE RESULT

Olney v Liberal Kansas

Pamela Bolivar wins the Liberal Leg and the International Race with a time of 1:03.03.

Kaisa Larkas of Olney ran 1:03.37.

Many congratulations to Pamela

https://www.pancakeday.net/

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Linda said...
Our church which does not celebrate Shrove Tuesday had a preacher's wife who said we could not eat any protein with our pancakes served. She forbade it. Even when I explained that Tommy and I were diabetics, she said we could have no milk or meat. Is that the usual thing with Shrove Tuesday?

Hello Linda

Pancakes are associated with Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding Lent, because they are a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. The liturgical fasting emphasizes eating simpler food, and refraining from food that would give undue pleasure: in many cultures, this means no meat, lacticinia (dairy products) or eggs.

Much more to read here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday

All the best Jan

Barwitzki said...

Just like with us... on this Shrove Tuesday everyone eats as many pancakes as they like and can :-)) I ate two with coffee... they were delicious... I don't make them myself because we have wonderful bakers which they prepare fantastically - everyone has their favorite baker.
According to legend, a Berlin baker invented pancakes in 1756, which is why they are also known as "Berliner Pfannkuchen" - Berlin pancakes... it is a sweet yeast dough that is formed into a dumpling, filled with jam and fried in oil in a high pan... delicious when the dough is well made.
I often bake your pancakes, which are baked flat in the pan and without yeast because they are very quick... they were a hit with my children.
Kind regards from Viola

Lowcarb team member said...

jabblog said...
i used to enjoy flipping pancakes but never make them now - can't make pancakes without eggs!

Hello there
Although not quite the same there are quite a few pancake recipes that do not use eggs
and some that use gluten free flour! However, the carb count and nutritional details will be different.

Please see more here:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/egg-free_pancakes

All the best Jan

Lorrie said...

The low-carb pancakes look good. We don't have the tradition of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. But we do like them at other times, usually for breakfast.

baili said...

wow i really enjoyed earning about pancake day dear Jan :)

the origin of food sounds reasonable and nice
is cheese essential for making pancake
hugs and blessings

Lowcarb team member said...

REPLY TO
Baili who (as part of her comment) asked

is cheese essential for making pancake

Hello Baili

Cheese is not needed in all pancake recipes and there are many different recipes on the internet, to suit all tastes and dietary requirements.

The recipe I shared was a lower carb one.

But many like this recipe from Delia Smith
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/basicpancakeswithsuga_66226

There are those that suit vegans and people who like gluten free recipes
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sweet_banana_and_maple_14272

We just have to keep in mind our individual dietary needs, likes/dislikes tastes etc.
So many lovely recipes to choose from :)

Wishing you a happy day

All the best Jan

carol l mckenna said...

sounds and looks delicious ~ thanks,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Conniecrafter said...

very interesting that they don't taste like cheese you would think they would have that flavor to them.

Teresa said...

Hace unos días hizo mi marido unos cuantos, son muy parecidos. Besos.