Pancake Day is here and Central England Co-operative has come up with some top tips to ensure people are at their flipping best when they head for the milk, eggs and flour.

Whether you like a classic pancake with sugar and lemon or maybe something a bit more eye-catching, Central England Co-op has come up with some great recipes that can be used to help craft the perfect pancake.

Below is a one-stop-shop for Pancake Day including a seven-step recipe for a classic pancake, a series of videos featuring quick and easy recipes for a wide range of pancakes with a difference such as chocolate orange and millionaire shortbread and a guide to the very best fillings available.

Perfect pancake recipe

Serves: 12 pancakes / Preparation time: 10 minutes / Cooking time: 20 minutes

You will need:

125g plain flour

2 free range eggs

300ml semi skimmed milk

25g unsalted melted butter, plus extra for frying

1 tbsp oil

Method:

1. Sieve the flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle. Crack the eggs into the well and whisk - some flour will be incorporated into the eggs as you whisk.

2. Slowly pour the milk into the well and continue whisking. The flour will fall into the liquid so keep whisking until you have a smooth batter.

3. Add the batter mix, cover and leave to stand for about 30 minutes.

4. Put 1 tsp of oil and a little butter into a frying pan over a medium heat, pouring any excess out of the pan.

5. Use a ladle to pour a little mixture in to the pan, move the pan around until the base is covered with batter and pour out any excess.

6. Cook for a couple of minutes, flip the pancake and cook for a further minute. Repeat with the rest of the pancake mixture.

7. Serve with lemon juice and sugar, fruit compote or chocolate sauce.

Ideas for delicious pancake fillings

Savoury pancakes

Cheese and ham

Take a packet of our Irresistible Ham and tear it into bite-sized strips, grate some Irresistible Farmhouse Cheddar and spread both ingredients evenly in the centre of your freshly tossed pancake. Fold in half and half again to create a delicious and easy-to-eat triangular pancake.

Mixed roasted vegetables

Roasted vegetables make a delicious savoury pancake filling and are a great option for a quick dinner. While you are letting your pancake batter rest, roughly chop a selection of vegetables (leeks, peppers, courgettes and butternut squash work well), season and toss lightly in olive oil, and place in a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes.

Bacon and maple syrup

This sweet and savoury combination is absolutely delicious, so long as you choose good quality bacon such as Irresistible bacon and get it really crispy. Simply drizzle with maple syrup and wrap in a warm pancake.

Sweet pancakes

Chocolate and banana

Melt some Fairtrade milk chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of boiling water, and once done, add slices of fresh banana and smother on your pancakes for a delicious topping.

Blueberries and crème fraiche

The healthy option! Mix a handful of fresh blueberries with a dollop of low-fat crème fraiche and wrap in a pancake – delicious as a dessert.

Vanilla ice cream with apple sauce and cinnamon

Make a stack of pancakes and have them ready to fill with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, a spoonful of apple sauce and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Video for out of the ordinary pancake recipes

From Cheesecake to Chocolate Orange, these quick and easy videos reveal how to make a pancake with a difference.

Millionaire Shortbread Pancake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGdrvU0pro8

Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake Pancake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPrGltLlo74

Chocolate Orange Pancake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvfxrpX4Gk4

*These can be embedded on your website for use.

If people want to make traditional or not so traditional pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, people can pick up everything they need for Pancake Day in Central England Co-operative stores. Find out about mouth-watering offers athttps://www.centralengland.coop/mycoopdeals