A New Kind of Mardi Gras

Short Tuesday here, as it is called, is National Pancake Day. As explained to me by one of my flat mates, on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is Pancake Tuesday, where almost everyone in Scotland eats pancakes. Because I had class on Tuesday evening and would not make it back to my flat until around 10:30 at night, we decided to celebrate on Monday.

I thought it would no big deal to go out and find “American Pancake Mix”. I was wrong. Scottish pancakes are more like crepes, thinner and not nearly as fluffy. Having seen “Betty Crocker Shake to Make American Pancake Mix” in Asda (the Scottish Walmart) a few days prior, I thought that I would fine getting it on Monday. This is where I was very wrong. They were sold out everywhere. It turns out the Scottish wanted American pancake mix too. They also didn’t have Bisquick, and I couldn’t be bothered to make them from scratch. Finally seven grocery stores later, I had pancake mix in hand, and was finally heading back to my flat.

Dan, Christina, and Laura met me there, and then we proceeded to make pancakes. With no mixer, whisk, or even a large bowl in sight, one of my flat mates suggested I used the blender. Although it was way overfilled, and a little scary, it turned out well, and we soon had batter and could make our pancakes.

Sometimes I miss all of my nice cooking things back home! After a little struggling with getting the hob (stove) to the right temperature, Christina and I were cooking pancakes and eggs. And soon we had dinner.

Although not the beads and crazy adventures on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras, or the masks of Venice during Carnivale, National Pancake Day is a very satisfying Scottish Fat Tuesday tradition.