I heard on the radio this morning Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day will be more celebrated than Valentine's Day.
Certainly in my house pancakes will be on the menu this evening. Quick and easy to make - especially if you are camping - flour, eggs and milk are all basics from the local shop.
Here's my very own recipe for sweet Summer Berry pancakes and even sweeter toffee apple pancakes. I've added a bit of a twist using fruit yoghurt to give a denser pancake and also some bicarbonate of Soda for a rise.
You can, of course, also choose your favourite or seasonal fruits to suit.
Ingredients
Pancake batter
5oz of plain flour
½ a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
Half of one of those big pots of strawberry or raspberry yoghurt (about 200g)
A generous splash of milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon of oil
Toffee apple filling
4 British eating apples
4oz sugar (I use brown)
2oz butter
Berry filling
Fresh berries of your choice such as raspberries, strawberries and blueberries
Get prepared
1. Shove all the batter ingredients in a big bowl and whisk it up.
2. Give it a good beating. Add more milk if you need to but remember your mixture needs to be pretty thick – just enough to 'gloop' off your spoon.
3.I like my pancake mixture to sit for a bit. I’m not sure why, I think it just feels right after it’s had such a beating and before I then throw it in hot oil. So while it's getting over it, make apples in toffee sauce.
4. Peel and cut apples into wedges.
5. Put butter and sugar into a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved.
6. Add the wedges and cook for about six or seven minutes (depending on type of apple.) You don’t want mush.
7. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
Get cooking
1. Now heat your griddle or frying pan. Add a little butter and oil.
2. Drop some of the batter on. Add some fruit if you want fruit pancakes, or leave plain if you are having the apple and toffee sauce.
3. Cook on a medium heat until the batter starts to bubble.
4. Turn over until cooked through, pop on a plate and add topping.
You can find more of my camping recipes in Eat Local within the Club's online magazine.
Ali's Summer Berry Pancakes