Pancakes

 “Pancake.”  Something you cook on a “pan” and is round and “cake-like” thus the name pancake.  A food that is found all around the world and eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Pancakes Started When?

It looks like the pancake has been around for quite a long time.

Pancake-like remains were found in Pompeii in 79AD.  In Africa there is evidence of grinding stones and milling tools and in Scandinavia there are images left of people flipping what look like pancakes.  Talk about a long history!

How Many Types of Pancakes?

Depending where you live a pancake can take different forms.  

In China they had “bings.  

France has two kinds, crepes and galettes if you come from Brittany.

“Scotch” pancakes are a bit smaller and thicker.

And there are more!

Here in the United States

Pancakes have been in our country since around the 17th century thanks to the Dutch.  The Dutch landed in Pennsylvania and New York and started making them.

The Indigenous people also had hotcakes made out of cornmeal which was plentiful.

For Mardi Gras and the beginning of lent and fasting, it was a way of using up eggs, milk and butter.

Private Home Health Care sees pancakes on breakfast menus all over the country.  Thanks to a collective effort and skilled cooks today we have many different pancakes all over the world.

Photo by Ash Craig