Pancake Day Blues

One thing that catches me out every year whilst we have been living in France is that they celebrate Shrove Tuesday early! According to me, it's the day before Ash Wednesday - it's even marked Mardi Gras on the calendar, but the school canteens have all served pancakes yesterday and the kids are clamouring for more. Here's the recipe I use. It's from my friend Maralyn, hence the name. I'm off to buy some eggs now, since we don't have no chickens - unlike some that read this blog. You know who you are!

Pancakes à la Marilyn

Ingredients:

150 gr flour

50 gr cornflour

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons oil

150 ml water

150 ml milk

4 very fresh eggs

4 tablespoons rum (or other flavouring – vanilla essence, etc)

Mix together the flour, baking powder, sugar and a pinch of salt. Make a hollow in the dry ingredients and add the eggs one by one, mixing well as you go. Add the oil and mix well, follow this with the flavouring. Add the milk and water (mixed together). Let the batter rest for at least an hour at room temperature.

Heat a small amount of butter in a frying pan. Put enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan and allow to cook until the top surface is becoming solid. Flip the pancake over and cook for a few minutes on the other side.

Serve with chopped up banana, chocolate spread, lemon and sugar and anything else that takes your fancy.

Bon Appetit!