Where did pancakes originate from
There are many versions and cultural diversities when talking about pancakes and it is really hard to say where did pancakes originate from. Pancakes can be wrappers, breakfast or dinner, street food or a luxury dessert. Pancakes are usually made from a batter of flour, eggs and milk and fried in a shallow pan or cooked on a greased griddle. But what we really call ‘pancake’ depends on our culture usually.
Many of us may wonder where did pancakes originate from while eating these delicious food. Pancakes have long history. They are direct descendants of the early Neolithic flatbreads which were baked on the stones. It remains a mystery when pancake split from early flatbreads but it is known that the break was made by the time Romans swaggered across the Europe. It was discovered that Roman cookbook included a recipe for pancakes served with pepper and honey. Pancakes survived the Roman empire and were common in English culinary. A 1430 English culinary manuscript mentions pancakes. Dutch cookbook from 1514 contains few recipes for pancakes. Later in 1710 in London “Household Companion” was printed which included instructions of how to make pancakes in a frying pan which will look yellow as Gold.
The Dutch and English settlers brought their pancakes variations to America. Later in 1889 the first ready pancake mix was introduced. It is called Aunt Jemima pancake flour. It became popular only after few years after introducing. Afterwards the fist pancake houses were opened.
Pancakes are eaten all over the world and have long history. In Russia for example people used to eat a meal of pancakes after praying for the dead. In France, it was believed that dropping pancake can bring bad luck. Even Napoleon said that he lost the war with Russia because he dropped a pancake. In many European countries Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday was previously known as a Pancake Day. It was a tradition of consuming a lot of pancakes to use up the eggs and butter which were forbidden during the Lent. In many countries tradition is still alive. For example in England where celebrations such as Great Pancake Grease are still popular. During this celebration, school cook tosses a huge pancake to a pack of schoolboys and the boy who emerges from the melee with the biggest piece gets a prize at the end. Also Pancake Races are very popular. They take place also in America. Pancake Days are very exciting and delicious events. In America, this day is not laden so much with religious meaning. Every year in Springfield, Massachusetts the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast is being held. In 2002 over 76, 000 stacks were served.
So what is so special about pancakes that they defy history and national borders? What make people put pancakes into upper echelon of elemental foods along with puddings, creams, cakes and various dishes that make all humanity salivate? The answer for these questions is easy. Pancakes are one of the original fast foods. Pancake batter is made from cheap ingredients which are easy to find: milk, eggs, sugar, flour and oil. To make pancakes tastier a lot of people add fruits to it. Some prefer jam or syrup. Pancakes are great for the sweet eaters and for those who prefer cheesy things.
