Over the years, the Tuesday prior to the beginning of Lent (known as Shrove or Fat Tuesday in most areas of the country - New Orleans knows it as Mardi Gras) has become recognized as a day to eat pancakes. To quote myself from last year, this is because "pancakes were a good way to use up the ingredients in your cupboards that were prohibited during Lenten austerity."

For as long as Pancake Day been part of our modern cultural vernacular, the International House of Pancakes (aka IHOP) has been giving away a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes to all comers on this most holy of breakfast days. Last year, they tried to move their free giveaway one week later so as not to have their business reduced by Super Tuesday, but they experienced more than a little backlash as a result, owing to the fact that those who observe Lent aren't going to disrupt their fast so that IHOP can have a better day at the till.

Happily, IHOP's pancake giveaway is back where it belongs this year. They'll be giving out free short stacks (one per customer, three pancakes per stack) tomorrow, February 24th between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm. In conjunction with the giveaway, they are conducting a fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network, so if you go in for some pancakes, consider making a donation. Oh, and just because the pancakes are free doesn't mean you should skimp on tipping your servers!

Happy Fat Tuesday, everyone.

The whole idea behind having pancakes on Fat Tuesday is to use up the butter, milk, eggs and other indulgent ingredients that you might having lying around the house so that you won't be tempted during Lent. But because everyone likes pancakes and not everyone observes lent, calling the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday "National Pancake Day" makes the tradition open to all - and I think that we can all agree that more pancakes are not a bad thing.

For my pancake day breakfast, I opted not to go with something decadent, but instead with something more wholesome so that I don't feel too bad about starting the day with a couple more pancakes (topped with maple syrup, of course), than I need.

A few days ago, I posted about Lent, the 40 days before Easter in which there is the tradition of giving something luxury, excess and indulgence, in addition to the general guidelines of abstaining from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent (including Good Friday).

But what about those who'd like to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this Friday, but also really do strictly observe the Lenten guidelines? Many will want to eat traditional corned beef. According to an article at Slate, the archbishop of Atlanta has agreed to grant a dispensation for Lent this year so that members of the diocese may eat meat this Friday as part of their St. Patrick's Day celebrations." In fact, almost a third of the diocese in the States have done the same thing.

Bring on the corned beef!

Though I'm not quite so religious now (if at all), I grew up in a semi-Catholic household, and remember many of the religious customs and traditions - eating fish on Fridays, the Communion, confession, etc. etc. etc. One of the things I don't recall ever really doing, though, was "giving up" something during Lent.

I always found it funny when other Catholic friends of mine would "give up" something that wasn't quite so difficult to give up in the first place - something like, oh, I don't know, a certain channel on TV. Doesn't that totally defeat the purpose? Aren't you supposed to give up something that will make you remember why you're doing it every time you have to hold yourself back?

Chocolate, burgers, butter, cheese - these things I could give up easily. However, there are a few things I should, but doubt I actually could, give up for 40 days for Lent:

1. Diet Coke - I need the caffeine.
2. Coffee - see above
3. Eggs - I eat at least a half dozen hard boiled eggs a week (not all the yolks, though). I know that eggs are one of the things you aren't supposed to eat anyway (which is why we have "Pancake Day"), but then what would I eat for breakfast?!
4. Wine - I don't even drink this in excess because other than tequila, wine hangovers are the worst kind of aftermath. However, dinner doesn't taste good without a glass of wine.
5. Salt - I salt everything. Sometimes (ssh, don't tell), even before I taste it.
6. Garlic - I think that after salt, garlic comes in second for "putting into everything."
7. Chilies, peppers, and anything spicy - While others may have been born with a silver spoon in their mouths, I think I was born with a chile pepper.
8. Gum - My mouth is always moving, and if I'm not eating, I have to be chewing gum.

Today - February 28th, 2006 - all participating IHOP restaurants will be giving away free pancakes to their customers. The free pancakes are in celebration of Fat Tuesday and each diner who requests them will be given a short stack at no charge! In IHOP speak, a short stack of pancakes is three pancakes, but diners with large appetites shouldn't worry about the small-sounding portion, since each pancake is nearly the size of a plate. During the promotion, customers will be invited to donate to the Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit group which works to raise funds for children's hospitals in North America. Check out the IHOP website for full details and locations for your free breakfast!