History
We have discussed in our posts about the three Sundays of Pre-Lent (Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima) that preparation for Lent includes giving thought to how the diet will reflect the penitential season. For this reason, Christians over many centuries have prepared their homes as well as their hearts for a fast, often by degrees. You can check out our recipes for Quinquagesima Pork and Septuagesima Berry Buns for more ideas.
The way the fast has been observed has changed drastically over time. With the development and expansion of Lent from two weeks (its earliest variation) to four weeks to the six+ weeks we experience today, the fast has evolved along with it. Whatever the intensity of the Lenten fast would be, it was viewed as best to use up the forbidden foods to avoid the temptation of breaking the regular Lenten fast that occurred during the forty days. This meant throwing great parties of the rich fare or slowly using up the non-fasting foods through regular cooking such as cooking up the meat by one Sunday, serving the last of the cheese the next, and the finishing off any remaining butter in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, when the full fast would begin.
The German Pancake
The Dutch Baby Pancake is a quick and simple breakfast recipe that is a crowd-pleaser, is relatively healthy, and uses up the rich foods you may be seeking to pare down on before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
The ingredients, except the butter, are thrown in a blender, baked, and served with toppings of your choice: syrup, whipped cream, berries, chocolate chips, banana slices, or whatever else you can think up to use as a last hurrah!
Ingredients
¼ cup butter
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup sugar or honey
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a 9×3″ pan in the oven preheated to 450℉. Check the pan periodically to ensure the butter doesn’t burn.
- Meanwhile, mix together the eggs, milk, four, salt, and sugar (or honey) in a blender.
- Pour the mixture into the preheated pan with butter and bake for 20-30 minutes.
- It will rise then fall when removed from the oven. Cut and serve as you would french toast with toppings of choice.
Sexagesima German Pancake
Ingredients
- ¼ C butter
- 3 eggs
- 2 C milk
- 1 C all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅓ C sugar or honey
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a 9×3" pan in the oven preheated to 450℉. Check the pan periodically to ensure the butter doesn't burn.
- Meanwhile, mix together the eggs, milk, four, salt, and sugar (or honey) in a blender.
- Pour the mixture into the preheated pan with butter and bake for 20-30 minutes.
- It will rise then fall when removed from the oven. Cut and serve as you would french toast with toppings of choice.
