Doesn’t sound terribly appealing in English, however the original French phrase ‘Mardi Gras’ has become synonymous with the riotous festival season in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Originally Fat Tuesday/Pancake Day was the final feast day before the Christian season of Lent. It was a way of using up rich foods, such as meat, eggs, milk and cheese before 40 days of fasting began.

Today pancakes are often perceived as a family treat, but actually they are a really easy and cheap dessert to make. Savoury versions using left overs, such as chicken, mince, cheese or fish make tasty main courses too!

Why not have a go at making your own pancakes next Tuesday. Cooking from scratch provides a great opportunity for children to get involved with simple cooking and will ensure your family eats a lot less sugar than in supermarket bought versions. According to the BBC the tried and tested Delia recipe for a basic homemade pancake contains about 88 calories, 5g of fat, 7.5g of carbohydrates, 0.2g of salt and 0.4g of fibre. Of course that doesn’t include any naughty toppings that you choose to add. Personally I am happy with a squeeze of lemon and a tiny sprinkling of sugar.

We’d love you to share your creations on our FaceBook Page.