pancakesWhether you call it Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras (in French), the day of eating breakfast for dinner is happening tomorrow. It’s the day preceding Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent, which is determined by Easter, and therefore, changes from year to year.

Since Pancake Day is the last day before Lent – the season when many people give up indulgences, like fatty foods – the day is often associated with eating rich, fatty foods before fasting, particularly starchy pancakes slathered in butter and syrup. Yum! We’re no stranger to syrup here in the home of the largest syrup festival in the world, coming up in April.

Traditionally and historically, pancakes were made for this feasting day because it was a good way to use up eggs, milk and sugar before the 40 days of fasting began, so they wouldn’t spoil. While the reasons may have changed, for many, Pancake Day is still a great opportunity to share some indulgent treats with family and friends before getting your diet back on track with those resolutions you made in January.

But with better refrigeration and more recipes to choose from, you don’t have to limit yourself to just pancakes. Why not think outside the box of pancake mix and make some savoury crêpes or southern-style sweet potato pancakes, which are more dinner fare than traditional pancakes. And of course, every good pancake meal goes great with sausages, but you don’t just have to use breakfast sausages. One of our new personal favourites is the apple butter sausage from Wellesley Gourmet, or the classic country sausages at Stemmler Meats & Cheese in Heidelberg.

Whatever you choose to do, there are lots of great dinner options for a savoury take on this traditionally sweet meal. Enjoy!

 

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