My Week on Wednesday and Pancake Day

Hello, and welcome to another My Week on Wednesday! We are all about pancakes today!

Next Wednesday (February 18, 2015) marks the beginning of Lent, which for many Christians is the reflective, penitentive season before Easter: growing up we used to talk about, “giving things up for Lent.” Ideas like, “I’m going to be nice to my brother,” were big, as we things like giving up candy.

To this day, my brother usually gives up beer.

Now, you’re not going to find me doing anything crazy like giving up alcohol or chocolate, or even going to church to get ashes on my forehead.

Also you won’t find me writing an edition of My Week on Wednesday next week. But only because the kids are on Winter Break, and I’ll be too busy playing Monopoly, doing puzzles, and having a Star Wars Marathon. We might even go crazy and give The-Dessert-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named another go. 😉

But you will find me making pancakes for dinner the night before.

You may have heard of Shrove Tuesday, which basically means “Confession Tuesday,” and seems like an unduly solemn way to kick off a season of solemnity. I am sure you have also heard of Mardi Grais, or Fat Tuesday, which is the exact opposite of solemn.

And, if you’re of Irish descent (or from anywhere in the UK, Australia, or Canada) you have probably heard of Pancake Day. The idea behind Pancake Day is that, since during the Lenten Fast you cannot eat rich foods, including eggs, milk, and sugar, you need to used them all up before it begins.

In other words, gorge yourself on pancakes.

It’s an extra special treat for my kids, as my husband — who generally will eat just about anything — firmly believes that pancakes are suitable only for meals served before noon. This rule does not apply on Pancake Day. (Well, it might, but I ignore it.)

So I gathered up a bunch of really awesome pancake recipes from myself, my friends over at the Homestead Bloggers Network, and some of my other favorite bloggers.

Gluten-free Pancakes

So you can have your pancakes and eat them, too!

Gluten Free Pancake Bread Recipe from Spring Mountain Living

Coconut Flour Pancakes from Little Owl Crunchy Mama

Easiest, Fluffiest Buttermilk Pancakes from Raia’s Recipes. Yes, gluten-free. Though you would never know it!

Soaked and Soured Pancake Recipes

Why go to all the trouble of soaking the batter, or using a sourdough starter? It’s not actually all that much trouble, and it makes the food easier to digest, and aids in nutrient absorption. Many people who think they are sensitive to gluten can, in fact, eat grains so long as they have been properly prepared. For more information, be sure to check out one of my all-time favorite books, Nourishing Traditions.

Easy Sourdough Pancake Recipe from The Easy Homestead

Traditional Sourdough Pancakes from Nourished Kitchen

Little Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes from Northern Homestead

Soaked Chocolate Chip Pancakes from Nourishing Gourmet

Soaked Spelt Pancakes from Whistle Pig Hollow — This one is my all-time favorite pancake recipe — just like Grandma used to make!

Not Quite Pancakes

Einkorn Flour Waffles from Naturally Loriel — Okay, maybe they’re not at all pancakes, but I do so love a good waffle!

Kartoffelpuffer from Northern Homestead — That would be “potato pancake” for those of you who do not speak German. And even if you don’t speak German, you should really try saying it … Kartoffelpuffer… it’s all kinds of fun.

German Potato Pancakes from One Acre Vintage Homestead

Whole Grain Kaiserschmaarrn from Northern Homestead

Oven Crepes from The 104 Homestead — Two delicious recipes here!

Even More Pancake Recipes

Premade Pancake Mix from The Homesteading Hippy

Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pancakes from Mom Prepares

Brown Butter Pear Spiced Pancakes from A Cookie Named Desire — These look too good to be true!

29 Best Pancake Recipes from The Nourished Life

And what would pancakes be without syrup? Be sure to check out My Week on Wednesday from a couple week ago: Syrup Season!

And now…

Quote of the Week

Approximately daily, I post quotes on my Facebook Page. The quote with the most likes, shares, and comments will become the Quote of the Week. Be sure to “like” my page so you don’t miss any, and so you can make your favorites known!