Pancake Tuesday...

Well it is Shrove Tuesday and that means PANCAKES! What you say? What about Fat Tuesday with it's Mardi Gras beads and king cakes??? What about carnival with it's floats covered with half naked women? Well that is all a part of it too...but I didn't grow up in New Orleans or Rio... I grew up in the Episcopal church deep in the heart of Texas... and for us the Tuesday before lent was always called Pancake Tuesday. We always went up to church to have a pancake supper organized by a man named John Harvey. The men of the church would fire up the griddles and make endless stacks of pancakes that we would eat at long tables set up in a large meeting hall near the kitchen. It was always a lot of fun... and even though I don't go to St. Matthews anymore I still try to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a big stack of hot cakes.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica the word shrove is derived from “shrive,” which refers to the confession of sins in preparation for Lent. This tradition has evolved into a day of carnival, gluttony, and drinking in preparation for the deprivations of Lent. Me I've always been more of a partier and less of a penitent... so I'll be having pancakes and something decadent to drink this evening. Can anyone recommend a good wine to go with pancakes???

Gingerbread Pancakes

This is one of my favorite breakfast recipes to make when I have company. The first time I had gingerbread pancakes was at a restaurant in Austin, Texas. The molasses gives these pancakes a nice sweet flavor so use a light hand when you’re applying the syrup.

1 C. whole wheat flour
1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/8 t. cloves
2 egg whites
1 1/4 C. milk
1/4 C. molasses
2 T. + 2 t. vegetable oil
1 t. vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and soda with spices and mix well. In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Beat with a fork or whisk until blended. Add to dry mixture, Mixing until all are moistened. Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Oil or spray with non-stick spray. Drop onto griddle using 1/4 cup for each pancake. Turn when edges are dry and . Makes 12 pancakes.