13 Comments

Clearly you have not had a lemon-ricotta pancake, or you would not so disparage the American pancake. And then there’s the Dutch Baby, corn cakes, oatmeal buttermilk pancakes. And more. (I like sour cream or yogurt on mine, but I do not so vehemently object to true maple syrup.)

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Now, if I had ever been presented with any of these, I might have to reconsider!

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Looking forward to trying these! I hate squodgy pancakes!

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You've idea how chuffed I am! And relieved. It's a bit of a risk to put recipes out there and I'm so pleased this one worked.

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I don't understand their popularity - a whole restaurant chain is devoted to them in the US. They're only a carriage for maple syrup - a vital addition to distract from their tasteless wodge.

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Calling IHOP a restaurant is a very generous definition! I'd say more of a feeding trough...

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Thank you SO much for this recipe! I’ve been trying (unsuccessfully) for the 2 1/2 years since we moved to France to make crêpes/ English pancakes. I’ve tried English recipes, French recipes, neighbor’s recipes, and even went back to my Betty Crocker recipe and they all came out either too greasy, too floury (blamed French flour complexity- I don’t understand the numbering), too eggy or not eggy enough. I tried your recipe this morning and it is perfection!! I have a cold right now so I didn’t really taste the 1 tsp of vanilla (I used McCormick’s real vanilla, not the French stuff), so I might add some more next time. Can’t wait for the next time!

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I had no idea Groundhog Day had religious origins! Has anyone told Punxsutawney Phil?

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People were also surprised to learn that Mother's Day is Mothering Sunday, the one day of the year that the poor benighted staff of the English aristocracy and lesser were allowed to return to worship at their 'mother' church, ie the one in their village which gave them a chance to visit home.

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I always tell people that when they ask why the English do Mothers' Day at a different time to the rest of the English-speaking world!

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Thank you, on both counts! She's not a major figure in the hagiography, but very much a patron of the Western Isles and Ireland. Also known (more in Ireland) as St Bridget. The bulk of Montrose's troops were either Highlanders or Irishmen, and either Episcopalian or RC, mostly Catholic. They felt that, in spite of being half-starved, exhausted and heavily outnumbered, St Bride's was an auspicious day for them to fight. There is a lovely story about Iain Lom MacDonald, the Bard of Clan Donald, who withdrew from the battle line to a slope above the enemy camp; Alistair MacColla, Montrose's Irish second-in-command, asked him why, and received the reply: 'And if I am killed in the battle, who will sing thy praise and thy prowess tomorrow?'

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Also known as Candlemas Day, and the feast day of St Bride of the Isles. And the day in 1645 when the Marquis of Montrose won the Battle of Inverlochy in what is erroneously known as the 'English' Civil War! Your piece of useless information for the day ...

I've never had much success with crêpes, I'll have to try it your way!

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Gosh! So far from useless! I hadn't heard of St Bride of the Isles. Will investigate. And I appreciate your use of the word 'erroneously'.

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