Snick, snack, the pan’s hot,
We’re come a shroving
Strike while the iron’s hot –
Something’s better than nothing.
Flour’s cheap and lard’s dear
And that’s why we come a shroving here …
(Rhyme from Drayton near Abingdon quoted in May Day to Mummers – Folklore and customs in Oxfordshire.)
Children no longer beg their neighbours for ingredients for pancakes. To help us prepare for Pancake Day, the supermarkets in Abingdon each had a little display of a ready made pancake mix – massively reduced , together with JIF Lemons and maple syrup, and even eggs and flour in some places.
I probably did not follow the instructions properly with the pancake mix, as I ended up with some pale sloppy pancakes that stuck to the pan. After the third attempt I gave up.
But we do still have the basics: an egg, 3 oz (75g) flour, 5 fl oz (150ml) of milk and a pinch of salt.
That worked so much better, and came in under half the price of the pancake mix.
You have made me feel much better. I bought the same mix and it didn’t work for me either. Your homemade pancakes look great!
Pancake mix is rubbish and tasteless. They’re so easy to make yourself.
We went for the traditional mix with sugar and lemon – very tasty and very filling!
My Mum used to add currants, even better.
Have to make sure the pan is hot enough too…if it isnt-that is often why they stick