Pancakes!!!

Yes, I know it's a bit early to talk about this but Pancake Tuesday or the more correct term Shrove Tuesday is another day noted annually in February. So where did the tradition of eating pancakes originate??

Shrove Tuesday is always the day before the start of Lent. And Lent as we all know is when you give up something nice or indulgent, ie. chocolate, alcohol, sugar etc. This is a Christian tradition based on the fasting of Jesus Christ in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights.

So why pancakes on the Tuesday before? Well way back when, people gave up a whole lot more than we do today so in order to use up all the supplies before the fasting period, milk, flour and eggs had to be used or thrown out. What are the ingredients for pancakes? Yep, milk, flour and eggs. Hence Pancake Tuesday!!!

And for that special someone, why not make some pancakes with a difference.....

Norpro Nonstick Heart Pancake Egg Rings, Set of 2

But this year there is a catch! Whilst Shrove Tuesday is mostly in February, this year it is in March (8^th) so you have another few weeks to go before getting out the sugar and lemon.

Spring Cleaning - why and when?

February is the first month of Spring, even if the weather seems more Winter like. So what comes to mind when we hear it’s Spring……Spring cleaning!!!! Now where and why did this term come about?

Spring cleaning is traditionally a time set aside to do a thorough, top to bottom, spit and polish in your home. Depending on where you are from will dictate when and why this is done but for most of us, it is the first fine day in Spring where you can open all windows and doors, let fresh air flow through the house and all the nooks and crannies that have been ignored all winter are thoroughly scrubbed!

This year when it comes to doing your spring cleaning, blast up that radio and have lots of fun dancing AND cleaning in one go thanks to these little genies....Slipper Genie Microfiber Cleaning Slippers, Pink

Cute or what!!!

It has been suggested that the origins of spring cleaning date back to the Persian new year, which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians continue the practice of "khooneh tekouni" which literally means "shaking the house" just before the new year.

Another possibility of the origin of spring cleaning can be traced to the ancient Jewish practice of thoroughly cleansing the home in anticipation of the spring-time holiday of  Passover. In remembrance of the Jews' hasty flight from Egypt, during the eight-day holiday there is a strict prohibition against eating anything which may have been leavened. Jews are not only supposed to refrain from leavened foodstuffs, they are commanded to rid their homes of even small remnants of chametz for the length of the holiday. Therefore, for the past 3,500 years, observant Jews have conducted a thorough "spring cleaning" of the house, followed by a traditional hunt for chametz crumbs by candlelight on the evening before the holiday begins.