Today The Great Lenten fast began. May it be joyful and blessed for all Orthodox Christians, and for the whole world. 🥰
Last week was Cheesefare Week, also called White Week, because everything is allowed except meat; milk, eggs, and cheese are still permitted. To be honest, we didn’t really follow the rules completely. Here, we also have a tradition called "Poklade", so yesterday my grandmother traditionally fried chicken, made a cheese pie (gibanica), boiled eggs, and I made dessert for us, pancakes, or crêpes.
Just a little about that tradition. In my area, children, mostly kids, go around the village dressed up in costumes. Some dress as old grandmothers or grandfathers, some as brides and grooms. They wear makeup, costumes, and carry a small accordion, pretending to play it. They go from house to house with a woven basket in their hands, asking for eggs. From the gate they shout, "Domaćine, give us an egg!" I loved it when I was little, even though I was so shy to go with them. While the other kids went around the village, I would secretly watch them from my yard. In the evening, every hundred meters or so, people would light big fires called "rana". Corn husks and straw would burn, also "palalije" for luck and health, we would jump over the flames, smear soot on our faces like little Indians, and run around the streets all night. I was usually there with the boys, helping organize the fire part. A little pyromaniac since childhood.
And now, about the pancakes, or crêpes. The classic version with eggs, milk, and white flour, filled with hazelnut cream. A true homemade classic. Every housewife has her own recipe for them, or just makes them by feel, like me xD, adding ingredients by eye, but the basic principle is always the same. I'll leave you a simple base recipe here that you can adjust and adapt depending on what you have, or don't have, in your fridge at the moment. 😄 By the way, my kitchen in these photos looks different from the previous ones because I'm now at the house where I grew up, at my parents' place. I don't have any photos of myself from yesterday while I was making them, or afterward. Honestly, I didn't even think about it. But we knooow each other. ❤️
You'll need:
~ 2 eegs
~ 200 g all-purpose white wheat flour
~ 150 ml milk
~ 200 ml sparkling mineral water (or regular water)
~ 2–3 heaping tablespoons of oil
~ half a teaspoon of salt
Now, this is where the variations come in. Egg sizes aren't always the same, so the batter can turn out a bit different. Sometimes the flour is different and you need to add a little more. Sometimes you don't have milk at home, so you make them with just water, and that's absolutely fine. They always turn out great.
First, whisk the eggs and salt well until the mixture becomes light and slightly frothy. Then gradually add the liquids and the flour. This helps prevent splashing if you're using a mixer as I do before the flour is fully incorporated.Of course, you can also just put everything into a deeper bowl at once and go with the mixer, bzzz, bzzz, bzzz, and the batter is ready in second. But if you want a bit more order to it, follow this sequence: eggs and salt first, then the milk and water, then the flour, and finally the oil.
Heat up a pan. I used a stainless steel one and they didn't stick at all. I only brushed it lightly with oil every now and then, maybe after every seventh pancake, although even that wasn't really necessary since there's enough oil in the batter itself. I made a double batch. 😄
For the filling, I chose a basic cocoa hazelnut spread, and I left some of the crêpes plain so everyone could fill them however they liked: plum jam, rosehip jam, cheese, or just a sprinkle of sugar. They're amazing even that way, you should definitely try them with sugar. Honey, too. 😄
We had such a lovely dinner with all that food last night and today some of us have already started "the fast on water" [a strict fast (without oil)]. In the coming days, I might share some of those lighter, tasty recipes with you as well.
Until our next little chat, sending love to everyone! kisses, kisses, besos!
