A book I read as a child was about France just after WW2 was over. It concerned a French child who wanted to be able to follow her family tradition of pancakes the night before Ash Wednesday. I remember in England cooking pancakes over the wood stove of the school I attended. The recipe below is from my mom - I think that she got it from Monique but I could be wrong!
Crepe Batter
Make in blender. (easier than beating by hand!)
1 ¾ cup flour
¼ tsp salt
2 TBS sugar (optional)
¼ cup booze (brandy, rum, bourbon)
2 tsp lemon rind (grated) or extract
6 eggs
¼ cup melted butter
2 – 3 cups milk
put in blender in order listed. – use 2 cups milk at start. Blend until smooth, add in extra milk as needed to get to consistency of thin cream. Let rest one hour or more in fridge.
When ready to cook, have some melted butter in a dish with a heatproof pastry brush, to brush the pan between each crepe.
I use my cast iron griddle (10" round) to make crepes. My daughter uses an omelette pan. They both work just fine.
Heat the pan (cold water flicked on it should dance), and brush with butter. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter on the heated surface, and swirl pan so that batter covers it in a very thin layer. As soon as the edges start to get dry, turn the crepe over in the pan and just barely cook the second side. Repeat until all the batter is cooked. You can keep the crepes warm in a stack with a damp towel over the top. You can let them get cold and heat them just as you use them. You may need to post a guard to keep your family from grabbing them to eat as fast as you can cook them.
Traditionally these are served with lemon juice and sugar for Shrove Tuesday - or you can roll them with jam, or fill them with just about anything. I don't recommend syrup, though, because it is rather overwhelming.
Tomorrow night's dinner! a good last meal before the Ash Wednesday Fast.
Sounds good Alicia. I didn't make any this year. My husband, a recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetic, would want both more pancake and more sugar than he should have.
Did you know that if you wipe a sliced raw potato over the griddle or pan you use, instead of using butter, you will get a lovely glassy surface to the pancake, nice and brown, istead of a sort of fried surface? Just slice another piece off the potato when first edge dries.
Shalom,
Jan
Jan - for your husband, you could make a very thin omelette using the same technique. beat the eggs with just a little water, season with a pinch of salt and a dash of tabasco, and cook as above. Use pam if you don't have a non-stick surface. Fill with sauted vegetables and roll.
I know that eggs can be a concern for cholesterol - I buy organic/omega-3 eggs.
Pancakes Paris! I adored that book! I can still hear little Suzette saying "Good dry towel!" I may have to get on Amazon and find it for my grandchidren (2 of them !!!!!!!)
Happy Shrove Tuesday to you, Alicia!
I just learned about the pancake tradition today and I've been Catholic for all of my 19 years. This recipe will be a must have for future Shrove Tuesdays!