The supermarkets all over the country has made sure we know this day is coming! Loads of banners and notes.. Remmember, 25th February, Tuesday! How could I forget? Truth to be told , pancake day in Lithuania (Where I was born and came from 12 years ago) is also called “Užgavėnės” .

So during the Užgavėnės day, it is said that the more pancakes you eat, the healthier and richer you will become. The next symbols of this day are the masks - wooden or paper ones, the most important thing is to look like a devil or a witch (or a goat) for the purpose to scare the winter. The masquerade follows the loud dances and games. And the most important thing of this day is the stage battle between the personalised spring called Kanapinis (“hempen man”) and personalised winter called Lašininis (“porky man”). I will reveal you one important secret - the spring always wins. At the end of the day, the effigy of winter called Morė is set up on fire to confirm one more time that the spring won and that the winter must leave our land.

However, one thing we do have in common that is PANCAKES!
And I will tell you one super delicious recipe that is also simple and easy to make. It is truly a crowd pleaser in our family!

240g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons sugar
500ml buttermilk (or can substitute 400ml of milk)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large eggs, separated

Mix up all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the buttermilk, melted butter and egg yolks.

Slowly add the whisked mix to the dry ingredients whisking it to mix. Don't worry about it being smooth.

Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until they make soft peaks. Don't over-whisk them.

Slowly fold the egg whites into the batter.

The batter should be slightly lumpy for best results.

Heat a non stick frying pan brushed with butter. You want a greasy surface not a wet one!

Drop 2-3 tablespoons of batter for each pancake into the pan.

Cook on a medium heat until bubbles form then flip and cook until golden.

Serve with your favourite topping.