Celebrate Fat Tuesday with Pancakes

The Tuesday before Lent begins is known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday and – somewhat less officially – Pancake Day. Lent is a period of fasting in many Christian traditions, so the day before it started was a time when people set out to use up all the milk, butter, eggs and other items that they couldn’t eat during Lent. Buttery crepes or pancakes that used a lot of these ingredients were a natural choice to use them up, and the tradition of Pancake Day was born.

Pancake Day itself is certainly not a religious occasion, but it is a good excuse to enjoy a batch of homemade pancakes for breakfast or even for dinner. I typically celebrate Pancake Day by getting up a little bit early (it is a weekday, after all) so that I have time in the morning to make pancakes from scratch. Here are a few favorite pancake recipes for inspiration to help you celebrate Pancake Day in your kitchen, too:

• Apple Cinnamon Buttermilk Pancakes, packed with chunks of buttery, sauteed apples
• Thick and Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes, hearty, spiced pancakes perfect for a cold morning
• Whole Grain Banana Nut Pancakes, a heart-healthy pancake – even with all that maple syrup
• Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes (pictured), light and delicate pancakes ideal for topping with fresh fruit
• Classic Buttermilk Pancakes, always a favorite
• Cappuccino Pancakes, coffee-flavored pancakes served with chocolate syrup
• Classic Crepes, the original Pancake Day pancake

Tags: pancake day