Pancake Day

The idea of giving something up for Lent might sound unappealing, but there’s not many people who would turn down the offer of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

Though you might not think it, pancakes are actually ideal student fare, being cheap, easy and pretty much foolproof.

Try and avoid the just-add-milk-and-shake contraptions that seem to be littering supermarket shelves at the moment – there’s really no need. You’ll only get a couple of pancakes out of each one, whereas buying a bag of flour costs pennies and will last much longer.

The issue of preferred fillings seems to be contentious one. I’m personally a fan of orange juice and sugar, rather than the more traditional lemon juice, as I find it sweeter.

Two of my housemates swear by golden syrup and consume it by the tin, while another friend will accept Nutella and nothing else. Apple and cinnamon is always a winning combination – add some sultanas for extra flavour. Cheese and ham is also a good one for people with less of a sweet tooth.

But why stick to the tried-and-tested recipes? Pancakes are amazingly versatile and, because they’re so cheap, it doesn’t really matter if you go wrong a couple of times. A friend of mine is a strong advocate of cheese and jam, a combination I have never tried but there’s a first time for everything.

If you’re feeling a bit flush this week, try and hunt down a tub of Dulce de Leche sauce. It’s caramel-toffee taste goes perfectly with bananas, and there will be plenty left for ice cream sundaes and banoffee pie.

Basic Pancakes, a la Delia Smith

• 110g plain flour
• Pinch of salt
• 2 large eggs
• 200ml milk mixed with 75ml water
• 50g butter

1. Sift the flour and salt together, then make a well in the centre and break the eggs into it and whisk together with a fix, bringing the flour in from the edges of the bowl.
2. Gradually whisk in the milk and water mixture, and continue to whisk until light and airy.
3. Melt the butter. Whisk two tablespoons into the batter, and use the rest to grease the pan.
4. Once the pan is heated, pour some of the mixture in and roll the pan around to achieve the size pancake you want. Heat for a few minutes on one side, then flip over for another minute or so.
5. Select your filling and enjoy.

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