Over 50s housing: pancake tips for stacks of fun this Shrove Tuesday
If you are looking for some ideas and inspiration for pancake day in Burnham on Crouch, then at Burnham Waters, the over 50s housing community in Essex, we have some tips to ensure you have stacks of fun!
Throughout the next week, over 50s housing communities and care homes across the country will be welcoming the annual arrival of Pancake Day.
Whether you’re planning on preparing a sweet feast for family or want to host a ‘Shrove Tuesday Shindig’ for neighbours, we wanted to share some of the best tips and tricks to ensure whatever you’ve got planned is flipping amazing!
A shrove story
Originating in England in the 16th century, Shrove Tuesday (or pancake day) marks the start of Lent. It derives from the practice of Anglo-Saxon Christians going into confession the day before Lent, and being ‘shriven’, or absolved of their sins. A bell would be rung to call people to confession, which became known as the pancake bell – this is still rung today in some churches. Pancake day falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date is different each year.
Tips for making THE BEST pancakes
The secret to a good stack of pancakes is in the preparation of the batter! Here is our essential checklist for light and moreish pancakes:
- Sift the flour, then mix into the other dry ingredients. This will help to eradicate lumps from the start.
- Whisk the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl. If you’re making thicker, smaller pancakes, beat the egg whites into stiff peaks separately from the yolks for ultimate fluffiness. Mix the batter together but fold in the egg whites just before pouring the mixture into the pan.
- Before mixing the batter ingredients together, make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, then fold into one another.
- Is your mixture a bit lumpy? Try mixing with the back of wooden spoon to break them down. Don’t over-whisk as this will cause the gluten in the flour to become tough and you’ll end up with thick and stodgy pancakes.
- Mix your batter in a pitcher or wide jug for easy pour pancake mix.
- Instead of using milk in your pancake recipe, you can substitute for buttermilk! This will make extra rich and delicious.
- Need to make a lot of batter for a party in luxury retirement communities? You can always make a batch of batter ahead of time! For ultimate freshness, store in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, whisk up to combine any separation of pancake mixture and you’ll have a quick, no-hassle treat ready to go!
If you’re looking for a simple, yet delicious pancake recipe, we’d suggest this one from BBC Good Food.
Best places to enjoy pancakes in Burnham on Crouch
If you want the pancakes but you don't fancy the mess then local family run coffee shop Peaberries, which is close to our luxury over 50s housing community in Burnham on Crouch, could have the perfect solution! Their 'breakfast in bed' hamper offers a tempting selection of fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, accompanied by a fruit platter, croissants, granola and yogurt and freshly pressed juice. Yum!
Or, if pancakes aren’t really your thing, then how about substituting them with another sweet treat, such as a waffle!! At the popular Ground Coffee House, another local establishment situated close to our luxury over 50s housing community in Burnham on Crouch, they do a tempting array of waffles from Biscoff or Oreo to triple chocolate, or banana and Nutella. There’s something for everyone and you can even get them delivered!!
Pancake hacks
- Did you know that utilising cooking spices can enhance the flavour of your pancakes instantly! We’d recommend adding cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and even ginger to your batter mix, or even sprinkled on top.
- Fancy berry flavoured pancakes? Add a little strawberry or raspberry favoured yoghurt for added richness and zesty freshness in your pancake stack! We wouldn’t recommend adding this to a pre-made batch of batter mix though, as it promotes separation of the mixture. Keep this trick for a fresh batch.
- A splash of maple syrup, chocolate chips or fudge cubes sprinkled into the pan when the pancake mixture is still wet is great way to add a little sweetness to your pancakes. They’ll cook with your batter mix, infusing moreish flavours.
- If you want to get even-sized pancakes, use an ice cream scoop to portion out the batter. Remember, thin pancakes only need a minute on each side. Flip when the edges become dry.
- Thicker pancakes need a little longer to cook. Be patient - resist the urge to press down with a spatula. You’ll squash out that fluffy texture.
- Want to save some of your stack for a later date? Well, you can freeze pancakes! Simply allow them to cool completely and stack between layers of greaseproof paper, place in a zip-lock bag and store in the freezer. To defrost, pop in the toaster, or grill depending on their size.
Our favourite toppings
In our opinion, you can never have enough pancake toppings. In England, the traditional pancake topping is lemon and sugar. Why not try strawberries and whipped cream, jam and clotted cream, Nutella and banana, or if you’re feeling a little more experimental, bacon and maple syrup is a match made in heaven!
Pancake party activities
If you’re hosting a get together in a over 50s housing community, you may want to try some pancake themed activities! Why not try pancake flipping? The highest flipper wins! Another simply idea for a luxury retirement community is to set up a large pancake decorating station, this way, everyone can get involved with adding their favourite toppings to this popular annual delicacy.
Our over 50s housing community in Essex
Are you looking to move to a luxury over 50s housing community in Essex? Well, we’d love to hear from you!
Call our friendly sales team today on 01621 861559, or if you have any questions, you can email us at info@burnhamwaters.co.uk. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of our home page and sign up to our newsletter for all the latest news on our community.
