I know it isn't Shrove Tuesday yet, that lovely date in February that means we can scoff loads of pancakes, but they are cheap, quick, filling and very easy for children to make.

So I say ignore the date, just get cooking pancakes with your children. Not only are they lovely to eat but it will fill your child with confidence to see you tuck into a plateful that they have cooked.

Follow our two recipes and you'll be eating this perfect winter warmer in no time. Just don't mention the word diet. That's banned, until the weather warms up at least. My children are, mostly, very into pancakes, particularly one of them. So she would make them with me but then graduated to making batches on her own, which is rather blissful and one of the joys of having older children.

This is the recipe we have been using:
100g plain flour
pinch of salt
1 egg, beaten
butter or oil
300 ml of milk

Sieve the flour, make a well and break in the egg. Add half the milk and mix then add the remaining milk and the pinch of salt. Heat the oil in a frying pan and add some of the batter (your children may need help with this bit).

Wow the children with your skills by successfully flipping the pancake, cook for a couple more minutes then eat. The beauty of pancakes is they are so versatile. Bananas and chocolate sauce or a savoury filing topped off with grated cheese anyone?

For an even easier recipe (if you are super lazy like me), and one that even little children can manage on their own, is a version I got from watching Jamie Oliver cooking with his family this Christmas.

One cup of flour, one egg and one cup of milk mixed into a bowl will make loads of smaller, thicker pancakes which are perfect if you have a pancake mould. We have a heart shaped one which make sweet looking pancakes the children love.

We call these our Fat Jamie Oliver Pancakes. Not because he's fat you understand, but because they make fatter looking ones. Honestly.