Crumbs to Crunch

Crumbs to Crunch has gone a bit pancake mad recently but how do other countries celebrate Shrove Tuesday? Where better to do research *ahem* than at the Venice Carnival? Someone's got to do it... The Venice Carnival is one of the biggest and most exciting Mardi Gras celebrations in the world. The whole city was buzzing when I arrived. It felt like I had stepped into another world, another time even where people were donning masks ranging from the exquisite to the downright creepy.  To get a real sense of the Carnival, I stood in Piazza San Marco. In the distance I could hear the sound of beating drums that were getting louder and louder. It turns out that I'd stumbled across a parade where everyone was marching in medieval attire. The parade was led by drummers, followed by flag bearers  who were throwing the flags into the air like some elaborate dance. Up next were some very regal looking characters strolling across the square. The final member of the group was...

It's one day to go until Pancake Day! I'm sure everyone is prepared for their dessert pancakes, whether it's traditional sugar and lemon, or something a bit more unusual . But why only have pancakes for pudding? Here is an interesting pancake main that will ensure that your whole day is pancake-centric.  A couple of years ago, our parents went on holiday to Korea. Whilst there, they discovered this lovely little dish. Korean vegetable pancakes are very easy to make, as essentially you chop vegetables and add it to the pancake batter. I found this recipe on youtube, that proves just how straightforward it is to make these tasty treats. Make sure you don't forget to make the dipping sauce, as the soy sauce makes a perfect accompaniment to the pancakes. Korean pancakes are simple, delicious and just a little bit different. It's a great way to mix things up this pancake day. 

With Shrove Tuesday less than a week away, we decided to see what Pancake treats other countries have to offer. In December I was lucky enough to visit the Christmas markets in Munich and Salzburg. There were so many stalls selling delicious treats, but by far my favourite was Kaiserschmarrn. This Austrian delicacy means literally 'Emperor's Trifle' or 'Emperor's Mess', as it was apparently a favourite of Kaiser Franz Josef I. Kaiserschmarrrn is a very light, thick, fluffy sort of pancake, often containing raisins, that is torn into shreds. It is very easy to make and very tasty, so there's no reason not to make it on Pancake Day! The batter is very similar to ordinary pancake mix, although I whipped my egg whites separately and stirred them in, ensuring a very light and fluffy texture. After it's cooked, simply cut it up into smaller pieces. I would definitely recommend this recipe from the Austrian Tourist Board website if you're a...

Savoury pancakes taste better than sweet ones. Controversial I know but I just love the crispy texture of Breton galettes!They are so easy to make and will make a great main before you get to the good old sugar and lemon pancakes for dessert. I made spinach, cheese and ham galette. Ingredients 300g Buckwheat flour A pinch of salt 2 eggs 300 ml milk 300 ml water Method Serves 6 1. Pour the flour in a bowl. Make a well and crack the eggs into it. 2. Add some salt and start whisking the eggs and flour together. 3. Gradually add the milk and water and keep whisking until you get a smooth batter. 4. Leave to stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour (if you can wait that long!) 5. Melt butter in a frying pan. Make sure the pan is really hot and add a ladle full of batter. The galette should be really thin. When it starts turning crispy, flip over and crisp the other side. 6. Put your favourite toppings on the galette and fold the edges to make a parcel shape. ...

I love Le Moulin Vert's fairy tale themed décor. As Shrove Tuesday is coming up, there is no better place to explore the world of pancakes than Brittany.  The Bretons are kings of crêpes. The meal starts with galette - a savoury pancake made with buckwheat flour. The result is a crispier and more textured pancake. The toppings are endless such as the  complète   (ham, egg and cheese) to andouille, a pork tripe sausage. For dessert, there is also a huge range to choose from, my favourites include apple and salted caramel as well as poire belle-hélène (pear drizzled in dark chocolate). Of course all of this pancake goodness is washed down with a hearty cup of Breton cider.  However, I have discovered a new mouth-watering take in the galette at the  Le Moulin Vert  in Lannion. This beauty is called a galette gratinée which is basically a rolled up galette cut into pieces and sprinkled with cheese and crème fra î che. It is then popped into the ove...

Don't throw away your stale bread! Torrijas (pronounced tor-ee-hass) are a Spanish take on French Toast that has a cinnamon and zesty taste. You can use ordinary sliced bread but it tastes even better with old baguette. Torrijas are usually eaten during Holy Week  but I don't see why you can't eat it all year round! Here is my Spanish friend's recipe. Ingredients: Stale bread Milk Sugar Cinnamon Lemon Zest Oil Note: I haven't put any measurements as it depends on how much stale bread you have. You have to measure all the ingredients by eye and by how sweet/cinnamony you like your desserts! Method: 1. Measure out enough milk to cover all of your bread. Heat the milk in a saucepan with 1tsp cinnamon, some lemon zest and sugar to taste. 2. Leave the milk to cool down. 3. One the milk is cool, soak slices of stale bread in the milk. 4. Fry the soaked bread in a lot of oil. (Sorry, this is not the healthiest of recipes but it does taste amazing...