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If you're in the mood for doing something to help eradicate Leukemia and Lymphoma, eat pancakes at IHOP today.

Author: Gloria Hao Schneider
Date: Mar 1, 2011 - 3:56:52 PM

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If you're in the mood for doing something to help eradicate Leukemia and Lymphoma, eat pancakes at IHOP today. There really are only two times when the food served at IHOP is morally acceptable to some people who spend their days rallying against processed food and their nights eating the equivalent of similarly fat food: 1) when they are drunk or 2) when free food is involved.
Throw in a good charity like cancer and the place will be overflowing with philanthropists.

IHOP, the popular breakfast chain, notorious for their fluffy pancakes has brought back its annual national day of free pancakes held annually since 2006. Customers will receive a short stack of three pancakes free while the promotion lasts from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at participating locations today.

The hope is they'll feel moved to make a monetary donation toward the cause. IHOP officials say it has raised more than $5.65 million since it started its National Pancake Day promotion. Its goal for this year is to raise $2.3 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities.

Like last year, when the chain raised $76,000, IHOP is collecting money on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Speaking of drunk, at 3am this morning, 30 year old singing sensation, of Super Bowl flub up notoriety, Christina Aguilera was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of suspicion of public drunkenness. Los Angeles County Sheriff's officers pulled over a car that was being driven by Aguilera's 25 year old boyfriend, Matthew Rutler.

Rutler was driving in a manner that led officers to believe he was driving under the influence. When officers discovered that Aguliera, a passenger, was "so intoxicated she couldn't take care of herself," the officers immediately arrested the two. During the arrest, witnesses claim that both Aguliera and Rutler were screaming. "I need to get to my pancakes!" and "Don't keep me from my flapjacks!"

Rulter was booked on a misdemeanor charge of suspicion of driving under the influence. At some point in their drunken stupor, the two caught a waif of maple syrup and the fact that IHOP would be serving free pancakes today. Apparently, they were rushing to the nearest joint to indulge in the free flapjacks. Problem is, they were a little early and the only joint they ended up at was a local sheriff's office under arrest.

The free give away did not start until 7am. Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is quite popular overseas though it is widely celebrated on Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, which this year falls on March 8. IHOP decided to celebrate the day a week early.

Shrove Tuesday is a term associated in English speaking countries, especially the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent. In the United States, the term Shrove Tuesday is less widely known outside of people who observe the liturgical traditions of the Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic Churches. Because of the increase in many immigrant populations and traditions since the 19th century, and the rise of highly publicized festivals, Mardi Gras, has become more familiar as the designation for that day.

In the United Kingdom and many other countries, the day is often known as Pancake Day. Making and eating such foods was considered a last feast with ingredients such as sugar, fat and eggs, whose consumption was traditionally restricted during the ritual fasting associated with Lent.

If you're into serving up flapjacks at home on Sunday mornings, your best bet for achieving the same symmetrical shape you'll find at the neighborhood greasy spoon, use a cleaned out ketchup squeeze bottle.

About the Author: Gloria Ha'o Schneider is a Skilled Nursing Facility Tampa-based freelance writer who has written advertising / sales and product development copy for major gift industry companies, website content, greeting cards. Assisted Living Tampa

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