Tuesday 5 February 2008

Wooohooooo - it's pancake day! (now with pics)

Who needs a balanced meal when it's pancake day?! We eat pancakes often, they're not a once a year special occasion feast for us. Though I have got into the habit of making American style pancakes with maple syrup more often than the crepe style pancakes that I had as a child, which were always served with golden syrup or lemon juice and sugar, and always rolled. I remember when I lived with my Nan I used to make pancakes for tea most Sunday afternoons. I loved the whole ritual of it and have fond memories from doing so. They were always appreciated and I felt proud of myself for making them.

Little is in London as I type, his first school trip. All day my thoughts have alarmingly darted back to him. We live in a world gone crazy and I've caught myself a few times imagining the worst. He was so excited, mainly at the thought of going on a double decker bus. We had to remind him to say goodbye. Small gets furious if Little doesn't hug and kiss him goodbye before going into class. The teacher had to hold the whole class up one day when Little had forgotten. Small was running after him screaming and shouting 'You forgot to kiss and hug me!' It's very sweet but could get a little embarrassing when they're older!

Anyway I can't wait until he gets home and then we can start our PANCAKE FEST. I can't decide what type of pancakes, might live dangerously and do both. It's the one day of the year where I don't care if the children have the right balance of nutrients on their plate and I don't stand over them watching to make sure they're not putting too much sugar or syrup on. Poor Hubs will have to re-heat his. What's the best way to re-heat them, I wonder? I'll post pics later.

Edited to add pics and some dialogue between Little and Small...
Little having arrived back to the village safe, sound, and full of his day in the old smoke...
Little ' it feels like we're eating a really special feast'
Small ' yes parasite feast'
Little 'you mean paradise feast'
Small ' I mean parastite feast'
Little ' you don't'
Small 'I don't mean that'
Little 'You mean you do mean that'
Mummy 'Okay boys should we just enjoy the Pancake Fest, and could you please pass the syrup'

Table laid with golden syrup, maple syrup, lavender honey, oranges, lemons, sugar
last of the Christmas chocolates, sliced banana, grapes and blueberries...

Decided to do both American style and..

Crepe style

Small hitting the grapes and blueberries first

Little insisted I make the above for him.
'I want the grapes and blueberries cut in half and the chocolate crumbled on top so that it starts to melt and then fold it over, so that I can squirt honey over it.'
Me - 'Do you mean drizzle the honey, darling?'
Little - 'No, I mean squirt.'
Me - 'Did you have a slave in your former life?'
Little - 'I think so, when will it be ready?'
Me -'Harumph!'

Little - 'See Mummy like this.'

Little - 'This is the best, you should do one like this for yourself.'

'Would you like to photograph this one for your blog Mummy?'

All washed down with our own fruit cocktails, complete with 'fancy' straws.
Do we know how to party?! I promise these were the boys idea!

Happy Shrove Tuesday!

31 comments:

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

Have fun - I reckon you'll all have a blast!

Deborah said...

I had never heard of pancake day before - but I have seen a few posts about it today! Maybe we will be having pancakes for dinner tonight!

glamah16 said...

I cant stop chuckling at the image of Small crying out to Little for his goodbye kiss and hug. Precious!

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

I'm just getting ready to start mine! Not even American-style :) Think I will do a savory filling though...Enjoy yours!

FH said...

Hahaha!! I can imagine other kids staring at both when they hug and kiss! Good for them, we all need those!:))
Sunday is our pancake and hashbrown day, we look forward to it. Trisha gets up very late, so she heats them in the MW for 20 secs!:))
Enjoy.

Meeta K. Wolff said...

Oh how sweet! Your boys are adorable. Pancakes rock and these look great!

Nora B. said...

Little and Small remind me of my relationship with my sis, we were (and still are) very close.

What a treat, Amanda! and look at all the possible combination of toppings! Such fun at your house. When I used to live in a fully-catered dorm, the cafeteria served pancakes once a week and I though that it was the BEST day of the week, even if they served it with golden syrup and not maple.

Your hubby probably already had his - to serve pancake/creapes later: once they are cool, I cover it with cling film to prevent them from dyring out. When I want to reheat them, I uncover a bit of the cling film and microwave them (how long depends on how many I have) just till they are warm. A tad too long and it all becomes like plastic.

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Hi aforkfulofspaghetti (I like saying that), we had a lot of fun!

Hi Deborah, I'm guessing that you don't have Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day. Historically, it's the feast before the fasting for lent. You'll have to start celebrating it, any excuse for a pancake.

Hi Glamah16, it is funny to watch. He seriously gets so cross if there is no hug and kiss.

Hi CC, savoury filling? I was going for the best mummy of the year award with the boys. They'd have recoiled in horror if I'd suggested savoury pancakes on pancake day.

Hi Asha, they do, though they're so used to it now if Little forgets they sometimes say.. You forgot to say bye to your brother properly.

Hi Meeta, thanks, I'm quite fond of them. ;)

Thank you for your comments.
Amanda x

Anonymous said...

Your pancakes look delicious and the serving suggestions very tasty.
Sara from farmingfriends

test it comm said...

I missed pancake day! I has been a while since I have made pancakes and now I am craving them. That is one nice looking pancake party!

Anonymous said...

Awww, what a fun set of pancake toppings! Your kids will always remember that tradition, too. :D

Aimée said...

That was so cute! Your pancakes look YUM and your boys are so lucky to have you. Wish we could have been at the 'fest.

Emily said...

Happy Shrove Tuesday to you!
This looks like quite the feast. I would have trouble deciding which type of pancake to have. And the fillings! I would have to have several variations.

Pat said...

Thanks Amanda I just feel like I have had a big hug reading your post as it was such a lovely post. Glad you and the boys enjoyed Pancake day!!!

Marie Rayner said...

Oh you sure do know how to celebrate! Loved this!

KJ said...

What fun!!! LOL. I have deferred pancake day to Saturday. There will be indulging. I love pancakes.

Sylvie said...

You pancake feast looks much more fun than mine!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Hi Sara, thank you, we don't normally have that many toppings when we're having pancakes for brunch but it was a pancake fest.

Hi Kevin, make them today - you know you want to!

Hi Sally, thank you. We hope they do have great memories when they're older.

Hi Aimee, Ah, thanks!!

Hi Emiline, thank you, several pancakes, several options, sounds good to me!

Hi Pat, thanks, that's really lovely!

Hi Marie, thank you, any excuse for a celebration.

Hi KJ, it was brilliant, enjoy yours!

Hi Sylvie, Oh! Have another one.

Thank you all for your comments. We loved our Pancake Fest and I'd made so many we had them for breakfast and I also put one each in the boys packed lunches today.... Mmmm pancakes!
Amanda x

Caffienated Cowgirl said...

Oh, don't worry Amanda...my husband and I had savory pancakes...but Little Man opted for maple syrup and butter :)

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

CC, I knew you wouldn't let Little Man down. It just wasn't a possibility.

Amanda x

Pig in the Kitchen said...

Heavy thud as pig falls to the floor in a faint. she revives herself briefly to say,
'You had POSH pancakes! they look amazing!'
She then retires back to her blog thinking, what a great idea to make pancakes for Sunday tea!
Pigx

Anonymous said...

Hi Amanda, Your pancakes looked delicious. Wish Mal liked them, I don't bother making them for myself but feel I just might indulge on Saturday morning for breakfast as I have a wonderful pot of chocolate sauce, a bottle of luxury maple syrup and some kirsch cherries in a large jar which were purchased for Christmas and I forget to bring them to your house, ha ha I'll enjoy them though.
Love to all. Mxxxxxx

Annemarie said...

I'm glad big bad dangerous London didn't gobble Little up. :) We had our pancakes yesterday, first savoury ham and cheese affairs and then nutella and banana. It did make me want to have it more than once a year. :)

Angel said...

That is so darling. I seriously was cracking up over the conversations between small and little, and Little and yourself. You have such a precious family. I can't wait to start my own!!
Hmm now maybe time for a pancake.

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Ah the brilliant Pig, I read your comment and a lightbulb went on inside my head. Why don't I revive making them on Sunday evenings? They always feel like a treat and it's such a great way to round off the weekend. They're also so easy to make. THANK YOU!!

Dearest Mama, I'm sure you wont mind if I just sulk!

Hi Annemarie, I know, slightly neurotic about my children, can't be helped... Re: your pancakes, banana and nutella - very nice! Didn't think to get the nutella out, but then we did have leftover Christmas chocolates to melt onto them.

Hi Angel, Thank you! I quite like them! My children that is. ;)

Thank you for your comments.
Amanda x

Cynthia said...

I think the world loves pancakes day. :)

We make both kinds, the traditional ones as seen in your pics and also the round ones that are fried and drizzled with syrup, yum!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

What happiness Amanda! I'll have mine with the blueberries, banana and that lavender honey!!! Please and Thank you.

Karen Baking Soda said...

I smiled all the way through. Really your house could be mine, and my table could be yours, including the variety on pancakes. (and trimmings..wishes...demands..)

Loved the story!

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Hi Cynthia, hard not to love pancakes.

Hi Tanna, That was my choice too. Really good.

Hi Karin, That's so funny because I often think the same when I read your blog. Apart from you're seriously good at bread making and I'm seriously not. ;)

Thanks for your comments
Amanda xx

Brilynn said...

That looks like a great way to celebrate!
I need to break out my crepe pan and make some soon.

Jann said...

Now this is the way to eat pancakes!

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