Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday, or perhaps you know it better as Pancake Day. Traditionally this was the day when you ate up all the rich food in the house ready for Lent and pancakes were the ideal choice.
Who doesn’t love a pancake! Just because you are trying to lose weight, you don’t have to miss out. Pancakes make a great sweet or savoury treat – at any time of the year.
Here are some recipes and ideas to help you enjoy Pancake Day.
Basic Pancake Recipe
Makes 8 – 10 pancakes
112g/4oz plain flour Pinch of salt
½ pint skimmed milk Low fat cooking spray
Lemon juice 1 medium sized egg
Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl, add the egg and half of the skimmed milk and beat to a smooth batter. Stir in the remaining milk. Mist a non-stick pan with the cooking spray and pour in 2 to 3 tablespoons of the batter mixture – enough to cover the base of the pan evenly. Cook over a medium heat until golden brown. Toss or turn the pancake over to cook the other side. Keep warm between two plates over a pan of simmering water.
If you are using a 7” pan, this mixture will make 10 pancakes at 60 calories each.
If you’re using an 8-9” pan, it will make 8 pancakes at 75 calories each.
Fruit Pancakes
approx 120 calories per pancake
Mix together 28g/1oz Philadelphia Extra Light Cream Cheese with ½ teaspoon icing sugar. Add chopped raspberries, blueberries and strawberries or any frozen fruit of your choice and spoon over the pancake. Mmmmmm!
Chocolate (or Spice) Pancakes
Simply stir 14g/½oz cocoa powder into the flour mixture. These are around 85 calories per serving.
Top with a fresh sliced banana to include one of your 5-a-day!
Alternatively try a Spice Pancakes by adding 1 teaspoon of mixed spice to the flour mixture for a different flavour – 75 calories per pancake.
Zingy Zesty Pancakes
This is one of my favourites! Grate in the zest of ½ a lemon or orange for a tasty alternative – 75 calories per pancake.
Why not try a savoury pancake instead. Here are two ideas to get you started.
Hot Chicken Pancake
Serves 1 – approx 162 calories
Sizzle 56g/2oz ready-cooked chicken, half a chopped red pepper and a pinch of Cajun seasoning with low fat cooking spray.
When hot, spoon the mixture over a hot pancake, roll up and enjoy with a crisp green salad!
Ham, Leek and Mushroom Pancakes
Serves 4 – approx 150 calories per portion
Chop 2 small leeks and 1 onion and pop into a non-stick pan. Shred 112g/4oz wafer thin ham, slice 112g/4oz mushrooms and add to the pan. Fry for a minute or two. Make up ½ pint Slimtone Cheese Sauce and add to the leek mixture. Stir until thickened. Fill the pancakes with the mixture, roll and place in an oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with 28g/1oz low-fat cheddar cheese and pop in the oven until the cheese melts. Serve with Slimtone coleslaw and salad.
Enjoy Pancake Day – but remember, no matter what time of the year you can experiment with pancakes to find your perfect match!
Happy flippin’
Marie x
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