February 25, 2011 > Free buttermilk pancakes Free buttermilk pancakes Submitted By Terry Wills Pancake Day is a tradition that dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products...hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. In celebration of National Pancake Day, IHOP restaurants nationwide will offer each guest a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes in an effort to raise awareness and funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. For every short stack of buttermilk pancakes served on National Pancake Day, Tuesday, March 1, from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., IHOP guests are invited to make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Donations made at IHOPs in the San Francisco area will benefit the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals' programs at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland. To find a local IHOP or to donate online, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.