Sunny Pancakes – The natural pancake recipe!

Shrove Tuesday…..Pancake day…..Day before Ash Wednesday…….random day in Feb/Mar when we eat pancakes…..

So here’s a Sun Temple Pancake Recipe for you :

As with so many traditions this has its roots in both Pagan and Christian history. Before the Christian era, in Europe, the Slavs believed that the change of seasons was a struggle between Jarilo, the god of vegetation, fertility and springtime, and the evil spirits of cold and darkness. People believed that they had to help Jarilo fight against winter and bring in the spring. They made pancakes, little round cakes, which represented the sun and they believed that by eating them they got the warmth and power of the sun. These little babies will certainly power you up.

Shrove Tuesday is also the day before Ash Wednesday which for Christians is the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting and penance to make reparation for sins. To be shriven means to obtain absolution for one’s sins through confessing and doing penance.

I choose to look at this pancake recipe as a good wholesome meal which will feed your temple (which of course is the repository of your soul). They are very sunny and happy and will brighten your spirit whether you are wishing for spring or looking for shade in hotter climes.

Serves 3 very hungry people

Sun Temple Pancake Recipe

140g grated carrots (2 largish ones)

140g (1 c) almonds

100g (1 c) porridge oats

2 tsp freshly grated ginger

juice and rind from 1 lemon (or orange)

65g (1/2 c) cassava flour (or just plain is fine)

1 tbsp maple syrup

2 eggs

pinch salt

1 tbsp virgin coconut oil for cooking (or butter)

Place the almonds in the food processor and blitz until they are quite finely chopped. You do not want chunks of nut so this can take a few minutes depending upon the sharpness of your blade and power of your processor. Add the oats and make them as fine as the nuts. Toss everything else in and blend well. Don’t you just love a food processor??

Imagine sharing the dough, which is very stiff, into 6 portions. Heat up the coconut oil (or the butter) in a large frying pan and flatten each portion into a circle as best as you can. Cook for roughly 4 to 5 minutes per side depending on how hot your frying pan is. They should have a nice browning on each side.

I chose to layer mine with homemade yogurt, or use good quality thick, greek yogurt, for the cement and banana slices for the pillars. The orange segments were delicious as was the little bite of mint. I think next time I may use orange juice and rind in the batter instead of lemon (depending on what’s in the fruit bowl), and mint chopped in would be really nice.

Also, because they are pancakes and invite a bit of decadence, a small splash of maple syrup is really a lovely addition but totally unnecessary if you are feeling self righteous.