As well as being International Women's Day, it is also Pancake Day (if you're in the UK) Semlor Day (if you're in Sweden) Mardi Gras (if you're everywhere else). Today is mean to represent one final day of gluttony and sin as tomorrow (in Christian and Catholic worlds) is the start of Lent - the 40 days leading up to Easter in which you're meant to fast (from both food and festitivies) and engage in other acts of pennance. Nowadays people use it as an excuse to detox or to give up chocolate and caffeine and then moan about it endlessly on Twitter.
But religion and pennance aside, Pancake Day for the rest of us is something that's just an excuse to eat pancakes and crepes for dinner. So here's to you, pancake eater. And in honor of your faux-religious celebration, here are two ways to eat your pancakes, all made from the easiness that is Betty Crocker's "Shake to Make" pancake mix.
I've been rather dubious about just shaking up some powder with water to make pancakes, as I know somany people who will actually make their own (you know, with like eggs and stuff) and do it "proper". However, this more often than not can go wrong and leave you pancake-less and sad. No one should be said on Pancake Day, so I encourage you to save yoursef the effort, buy a (incredibly inexpensive) bottle of Betty Crocker's "Shake to Make" pancake mix, and have perfect, easy to make pancakes this evening.
Now all you have to do is not burn them. And resist the urge to impress your lover by flipping it in the pan and ruining it...and therefore ruining Pancake Day.
(Don't flip in front of others if you're truly confident. Maybe practice before they get home, eh?)
Lemon and Sugar Pancakes
Anyone who has been to Paris knows that this is the most simple way to enjoy your crepes or pancakes. Once they come of the pan, give them a roll, squirt some fresh lemon juice all over (just not too much) and then sprinkle some sugar on top. How much juice and how much sugar is up to you! When making this with the Betty Crocker mix, this seriously takes about 5 - 7 minutes to prepare, depending on how much heat you have on the pan.
Voila!
Bompas & Parr's Golden Golden Syrup Pancakes
Bompas & Parr are known for being mad in the kitchen and creating thing such as glow-in-the-dark jelly, and their pancakes are no different. One of their most simple but beautiful pancake recipes is their Golden Golden Syrup pancakes. Bompas & Parr say you should mix a small pot of edible golden glitter into your Golden Syrup can, and then eat them that way. I, however, think drizzling Golden Syrup over your pancakes and then dusting them with thte gold glitter is much more fun.