[kenth]

I've never observed Lent traditionally. This will be my first real year in doing so. We will be giving up meat. This is going to be hard. I pray I have the grace to remember at all times what my little sacrifice represents.

OTOH, I briefly considered giving up rutabagas, but that didn't go over so well with the better half.

[Salvation]

**OTOH, I briefly considered giving up rutabagas, but that didn't go over so well with the better half.**

The abstinence from meat is only mandatory on Fridays and Ash Wednesday. 7 days??

You can do it!

[Salvation]

You might consider these recipes!

Pancake Recipes:
Plain Mlyntsi (Griddle Cakes)
Ingredients:
· 1 cup flour
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 2 teaspoons baking powder
· 1/2 teaspoon sugar
· 1 tablespoon melted butter
· 1 egg
· 3/4 cup milk
Directions:
· Place the dry ingredients in a bowl, stir them together well with a fork.
· Add the remaining ingredients and beat well with a manual or electirc beater until thoroughly blended.
· Heat a heavy griddle or frying pan, cast iron is best. Grease the pan lightly with a few drops of oil.
· Test the griddle with a few drops of cold water. The griddle is hot enough when the drops keep a globular shape and skitter across the pan. If the water spreads out, the pan is too cool. If they evaporate immediately, the pan is too hot, and the cakes will burn.
· Pour the batter into the pan with a small scoop or measuring cup to form cakes about 3 inches in diameter.
· Cook the cakes until bubbles break on the surface, flip them quickly and cook the other side.
· Do not turn more than once.
· Serve very hot with syrup, honey, or thick sour cream.


Oatmeal Apple Pancakes
Ingredients: (for 1 2/3 inch pancakes)
· 1 cup oatmeal
· 2 cup buttermilk, or sour milk (1 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice)
· 2 egg
· 2 tablespoon oil
· 2 teaspoon salt
· 2 teaspoon baking soda
· 1 cup flour
· 1 apple, chopped into small pieces
· 1 teaspoon cinnamon, if desired
Directions:
· Place the oatmeal and buttermilk together in a large bowl. Allow to soak for a few minutes.
· Add the egg and oil, and cinnamon if using. Stir well.
· Add the flour, salt and baking soda and stir until well blended.
· Heat a heavy frying pan. Grease lightly with oil.
· Pour about 1/3 cup batter into the pan with a small measuring cup.
· Bake the pancake until bubbles break on the surface, flip quickly and bake the other side. Make sure the pancakes are baked through.
· Keep the pancakes warm in a warm oven until all are done.
· Serve hot.


Potato Pancakes
Crisp and brown, these are great with sour cream or yogurt, bacon and applesauce. This year, I'm going to try cooking them in the waffle iron.
Ingredients: (for nine 3 1/2 inch pancakes)
· 3 medium potatoes
· 1 tablespoon flour
· 1 tablespoon cream
· 1 egg, beaten
· salt
· 4 tablespoons bacon fat or oil
Directions:
· Wash and grate the potatoes.
· Place the potatoes on a double thickness of paper towels, fold the towels around them and twist and squeeze until most of the moisture is removed.
· Unwrap the potatoes and dump them in a bowl.
· Add the flour, cream, egg, and salt and toss until mixed.
· Heat the fat or oil in a skillet.
· Put about 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture in the pan.
· Press and shape the pancakes into a flat 3 1/2 inch cake. Repeat until pan is full but not crowded.
· Cook each pancake about 5 minutes over medium low heat until the bottom is crisp and brown.
· Turn and cook the other side for 5 minutes more.
· Keep warm in a 300* oven until all are ready. Serve.

[tob2]

I remember very vividly when I was a member of a single's group at the church I attended in NYC. We would have a fund-raising drive during Lent and would donate the proceeds to lesser known charities. That was more meaningful to me than giving up foods, candy, smokes, etc.

[redhead]

"I've never observed Lent traditionally. This will be my first real year in doing so. We will be giving up meat. This is going to be hard. I pray I have the grace to remember at all times what my little sacrifice represents."

That's quite a sacrifice! No meat at all for the next 40 days? The Church only asks us to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Good for you!

[narses]

A freind of mine who rarely eats sweets of any kind gave up chocolate. It was incredible how often he found himself being tempted into eating chocolate that Lent!