Shrove Tuesday must always fall 47 days before Easter Sunday.

Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday is the day that Christians would confess all of their sins, before Lent commences the next day, on Ash Wednesday.

Why Pancakes? 

Pancakes became a convenient way of getting rid of "rich foods" such as flour, eggs and sugar before the 40-day feasting season of Lent began.

Going back even further, before the Christian era, Pancake Day was originally a pagan festival. The Slavs believed that the changing of the seasons was the struggle between Jarilo, the god of springtime and vegetations, and the evil spirits of cold and darkness.

In order to help Jarilo fight off the evil winter spirits and bring in the springtime, they made and ate pancakes, which were supposed to symbolise the sun.

They believed that by eating pancakes, they would inherit the power, light and warmth of the sun.

Whats more a great food to enjoy before or after a dancing session. 

Why not try a healthy pancake recipe today? 

Buckwheat Crepes (Gluten Free)



Servings: 2


Prep Time: 10 Minutes


Cook Time: 5 Minutes



This is a variation of the traditional French crepe. You can serve them with pretty much anything you fancy. My favourite is blueberries, strawberries, Greek yogurt and maple syrup.

Also, great as a savoury breakfast of scrambled eggs, vegetarian sausages and baked beans, or wilted spinach and crumbled goat's cheese. 


 Ingredients


- 4 ounces buckwheat flour


- 150 ml milk


- 150 ml water


- 1 egg


- 1 tsp olive oil


- 1 pinch salt

- 3 Tbs blueberries


- 3 Tbs strawberries

- 3 Tbs plain yogurt


- 3 tsp maple syrup



 Instructions

1. Put the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and add the egg.


2. Mix the milk and water together in a jug. 


3. Beat the egg into the flour, adding the milk and water a little at a time to make a batter (best made up the night before but fine to use straight away). 


4. Lightly oil a frying pan and heat it well. 

5. Put a tablespoon of batter into the pan and roll it around to the edges. 


6. Cook it until the pancake is golden, then turn over to cook the other side. Wash and cut the strawberries, blueberries whilst the pancake is cooking. 


7. Serve hot with the fruit, yogurt and drizzle of maple syrup. 

Vegan Chia Seed Pancakes 

Chia seeds are high in protetin and omega 3 fatty acids. 

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

- 1½ cups all-purpose flour

- 1 tbsp baking powder

- 1 tsp salt

- 3 tbsp chia seeds

- 1 tsp cinnamon

- 3 tbsp maple syrup

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 1½ cup almond milk

- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

  Instructions

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Add the almond milk, vanilla, maple syrup and ACV and stir until "just mixed."

3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes so the chia can work it's magic.

4. Cook in approximately ¼ cup scoops over medium heat in a lightly oiled pan.

5. Flip when bubbles appear in the middle of each pancake.

6. Cook for another 3-5 minutes on the other side.

Makes approximately 10 pancakes

The average pancake contains approx 150 calories, and who just eats one pancake? Therefore, the perfect excuse to get out dancing this week and burn off some of those calories! Not only will the dancing burn calories, it will you are helping to speed up your metabolism, tone up and increase your flexibility. Not to mention, it's good for your joints and posture, and has a positive effect on your mental health. The list is endless!