Shriving Day, Recipe: Pancakes

                                                                                

                                                                                           

‘You’ll be looking forward to the feast tomorrow, Father,’ said Edgar

Edgar always calls me father and I put up with it; it’s better than priest, God knows I’m no holier than thou priest; I’m just an old warrior, who found his God late on in life and joined a monastery, where I’m known as brother Osbert.

‘Aye, it’ll be the last chance to have a good feed before the fasting begins.’

Not that it will be much more than simple fare, just the meagre supplies that the good people of Chippenham have managed to hide from Guthrum’s men and of course the traditional pancakes to use up the fat, butter and eggs that are prohibited during lent. But then anything will taste better than the fish and eels we’d had to eat at ever meal, while we were in the swamps of Athelney.

Nigh on two months we spent camped there, while Alfred gathered his scattered force. Then when the swamp could hold no more, we burst out to drive the Vikings back beyond Chippenham. That was yesterday and here we shall stay, for the holy days are upon us and there will be no more fighting until Easter has passed.

‘I don’t suppose there’s a chance of meat, to go with tomorrows pancakes?’ I ask, hopefully.

Tomorrow is shriving day and when the bell rings, Alfred insists that we all attend church to be shriven of our sins before Lent. And the day after tomorrow we all shall fast, of that there is nothing surer. For we are followers of King Alfred and the King is a pious man, who adheres strictly to the teachings of the church and expects us to follow suit.

‘I’ve sent Aldric and the men to scour the country, who knows, they may be lucky and find a boar, Father.’

‘I’ll pray to Saint Guthlac for success, I do like a nice piece of pork.’

Mind you, if they do catch a boar, by the time it’s shared with Edgar’s sworn men and their women, the portions are going to be small. Still we can fill up with pancakes, there’s always plenty of those on Shrive Tuesday.

Fred Watson

Recipe for Pancakes.

Makes about 14.

4oz plain flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 large egg

½ pint of milk

Lard

1 Place flour and salt in a basin and make a well in the middle.

2 drop in egg, gradually mix in half of the milk,

3 beat well until bubbles show,

4Gradualy beat in remainder of the milk,

5 Heat a small frying pan and add a knob of lard,

melt and spread around pan.

6 Pour in a little batter and tilt pan so that it covers bottom.

7 when golden toss or turn over to cook the other side.

Sprinkle with a little sugar and lemon juice,

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