Been around the world and I, I, I

When marimba rhythms start to play

Here in Portugal today sees the start of a very wet Carnival, Mardi gras in many other Latin countries. This was a perfect excuse for blogger Cozzy-B to make a short foray into international food customs. Forget the dancing in the streets, the fancy floats, music and costumes. Its time to eat some pancakes, in preparation for 40 days of fasting - NOT!! talking of which....

The day before the beginning of Lent is known as Shrove Tuesday. To shrive someone, in old-fashioned English, is to hear his confession (he shrives, he shrove, he, she, or it has shriven. Say that very quickly I dare you. or he shrives, he shrived, he, she, or it has shrived). The term survives today in ordinary usage in the expression "short shrift". To give someone short shrift is to pay very little attention to his excuses or problems. - 'Yeah, but no, but yeah... WOTEVER!'

In Portugal Shrove Tuesday is  called "Terça-feira gorda", Fat Tuesday.In Louisiana it is the last day of the Mardi Gras Carnival season,as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.The day (or sometimes a longer period immediately preceding Lent) is also called Carnival, which means "farewell to meat." "Carni" as in carnivorous, and "vale" as in valediction.In the name of love, lets have one last hamburger before the Lenten fast begins. In France Mardi=Tuesday and gras=fat, as in foie gras which is very fatty. On this day  a thrifty French housewife uses up the fats that have been hanging around for cooking (her precious can of lardons, or WOTEVER!) She will not be using these throughout Lent, and will be mardy for sure, like a surly moaning child who doesn't get his or her way. 

Back in England, since pancakes are a standard way of using up fat, the day is also called Pancake Day,  and  is celebrated with pancake races. Flipping feck, the contestants run a course while holding a griddle and flipping a pancake. Points are awarded for time, for number and height of flips, and number of times the pancake turns over. There are of course penalties for dropping the pancake. Too much griddlin´ and flippin´, life´s too short. So happy Carnival everyone and just to put a spanner in the pan, O cozzy-B is still intent on watching his middle page spread, so here is Casa Rosada´s  healthy alternative to panquecas.Tortilla is the new pancake and the apple turns over a new leaf as the filing in the enchilada. For Carnival I decided on something a little more Ricky Martin and a little less James Martin if you get my drift, and its great for the kids after show party too.I´ve flipped now its your turn to set your sights on pancake perfection......

Apple enchiladas
This is not a quick dessert, but it is very easy,
very little prep involved, very Latin and vey lovely

Mushed filling from 4 baked apples
6 Tortillas
1tsp ground cinamon
125g ( 4 oz ) unsalted butter
100g ( 3 oz )white sugar
100g ( 3 oz )brown sugar
125ml ( 2/3 cup) water

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark4
Grease a baking dish. spoon the cooked apple evenly down the middle of each tortilla, the sprinkle with cinnamon. roll up the tortillas, tucking in the edges first, then place seam side down in the baking dish.
in medium saucepan over a medium heat, combine the butter, sugars and water. bring to the boil, stirring constantly, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Pour the sauce over the enchiladas and leave to stand for 30 minutes. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden, and serve piping hot. 

I,I,I,
Dancado lambada